Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has called on Nigerians to acquire combat skills to protect themselves amid rising security concerns.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, Musa compared learning martial arts like Karate, Taekwondo, and Judo to essential survival skills such as driving and swimming.
“Learning combat skills should be seen as a survival instinct, like swimming or driving,” Musa said, emphasising their importance regardless of whether the country is at war.
He noted that in some countries, such skills are mandatory.
“In Europe, swimming is compulsory. Learning and teaching about security (is compulsory) because you have to learn what security is.”
The CDS proposed that the National Youth Service Corps should incorporate unarmed combat training into its programme to equip graduates with survival skills against threats.
“The NYSC has been reduced to three weeks, but it should focus on training youths in self-defence,” he said, lamenting the programme’s current limitations.
Musa stressed that self-defence, situational awareness, and skills like swimming and driving are vital for navigating today’s “dangerous world,” where individuals with malicious intent pose constant risks.
“I think it is important that we are able to give every Nigerian security awareness at whatever level. Self-defence is very important. Unarmed combat. Swimming. Driving. These are critical aspects for human endeavours.
“These are things we should never take for granted because they prepare you for the future. The world we are in now is dangerous. We have individuals who don’t mean people well. They kill for whatever reason.”
He urged all Nigerians to take responsibility for their security by staying vigilant and identifying suspicious activities in their surroundings.
