CDS Musa urges Nigerians to acquire combat skills for self-defense
Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has urged all citizens to learn combat skills for self-defence, calling it a vital survival tool in an increasingly dangerous world.
Appearing on Channels Television’s Politics Today, General Musa compared learning skills like Karate, Taekwondo, and Judo to learning how to drive or swim. He stressed that these skills are essential for survival, regardless of whether the nation is at war.
“That one should be taken as learning driving, learning how to swim. Whether we have war or not, it is a survival instinct,” General Musa said. He added that, in many European countries, learning about security and swimming is compulsory.
The CDS suggested that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) should incorporate unarmed combat training for graduates. “That’s what the NYSC is supposed to do, but the NYSC has been watered down to three weeks,” he lamented. He insisted that “security awareness” and “self-defence” are critical for all Nigerians.
The Role of Gold and Logistical Challenges
General Musa also revealed that terrorists in Nigeria are increasingly using gold to fund their operations. He explained that these groups use complex, international networks, which makes it difficult to track and prosecute their financiers immediately.
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“Gold. They try to circulate this money, and that is why it is important for us to be able to track these things,” he said. He added that legal and international issues complicate the process, making it difficult to act on the funds coming from outside Nigeria.
The defence chief also acknowledged that bad roads and difficult terrain often hinder the military’s ability to respond quickly to terror attacks. He noted that many people expect an instant response from the Armed Forces without understanding the logistical challenges.
“A lot of people think [members of] the military are magicians; we are not, we are humans just like anybody,” he said. “By the time the information reaches you, the terrorists or bandits already know, they strike quickly, and within five minutes they have disappeared because they have easier mobility to move out as fast as possible.” He also mentioned that the threat of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in the North-East further slows down troop movement.
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Ekpa’s Prosecution and Synergy in Counter-Terrorism
On the issue of the pro-Biafran agitator Simon Ekpa, General Musa confirmed that Ekpa is still being prosecuted by Finnish authorities following his arrest in November 2024 for terrorism-related offences. Since his arrest, the CDS said, there has been relative peace in the Southeast region of Nigeria.
“He (Ekpa) is still undergoing prosecution in Finland. So, we are hopeful,” General Musa said. “When we talked about him, people thought we were making noise, but since he has been arrested, the Southeast is getting better.” He promised that the military is actively hunting Ekpa’s lieutenants in Imo, Enugu, Anambra, Ebonyi, and Abia states.
The CDS also praised the recent arrest of Ansaru terrorist leaders, crediting the success to increased synergy between the Nigerian Air Force, the Nigerian Army, and the Nigerian Navy.
“What has changed is that we have synergy with all the organisations… and that is why we have seen all the successes,” he concluded.
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