All Nigerians Should Learn Combat Skills for Self-Defense – Chief of Defense Staff

By Peter Dansu  The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has urged Nigerians to acquire basic combat skills as part of essenti...

By Peter Dansu 

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has urged Nigerians to acquire basic combat skills as part of essential survival training, stressing that self-defense is as important as knowing how to drive or swim.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, General Musa said Nigerians must begin to see security as a personal responsibility, not one left solely to the military or police.

He explained that just as swimming is made compulsory in many European countries, Nigerians should also be equipped with practical self-defense skills to prepare them for emergencies.

When asked if he would recommend Nigerians to learn combat skills for self-protection, the Defence Chief replied:
“Of course. That should be seen as basic—just like learning how to drive or swim. Whether there is war or not, self-defense is a survival instinct.”

General Musa also suggested that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) could incorporate unarmed combat training into its programme, so that Nigerian graduates are better prepared to defend themselves against criminal elements.

He added that security is a collective duty and urged citizens to remain alert to their environment, watch out for suspicious individuals, and always take their personal safety seriously.