The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has urged Nigerians to learn self-defence and combat skills as a vital survival measure in today’s dangerous world.
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Speaking as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Thursday, General Musa likened martial arts such as Karate, Taekwondo, and Judo to essential survival skills like driving and swimming.
“That one should be taken as learning driving, learning how to swim. Whether we have war or not, it is a survival instinct,” he said. “In Europe, swimming is compulsory. Learning and teaching about security is compulsory because you have to learn what security is.”
He further suggested that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) should train Nigerian graduates in unarmed combat and other survival skills, lamenting that the NYSC programme has been “watered down to three weeks.” He stressed that situational awareness and self-defence are critical, warning that the world is full of individuals “who don’t mean people well… they kill for whatever reason.”
General Musa disclosed that terrorists in Nigeria are increasingly using gold to fund their operations. He explained that the networks supporting these groups are complex and international, which complicates efforts to track and prosecute them.
“Gold. They try to circulate this money, and that is why it is important for us to track these things,” Musa said. He added that international legal complexities sometimes limit domestic action against such financiers.
The CDS highlighted that bad road networks and difficult terrains often hinder the military’s rapid response to terror and bandit attacks. “A lot of people think the military are magicians; we are not. Most times, in these areas where attacks occur, there are no networks or the roads are very bad. By the time information reaches you, the terrorists or bandits already know they strike quickly and disappear,” he explained.
He noted that improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in the North-East also slow troop movements, but assured that troops remain on the trail of insurgents and will not relent until they are neutralized.
General Musa said the arrest of pro-Biafran agitator Simon Ekpa in Finland in November 2024 has led to improved security in Nigeria’s Southeast. Ekpa remains under prosecution in Finland, and Nigerian troops have launched operations to apprehend his lieutenants across Imo, Enugu, Anambra, Ebonyi, and Abia states.
“He is still undergoing prosecution in Finland. Since his arrest, the Southeast is getting better. We will go after the likes of him, wherever they are, and whatever it takes,” Musa said.
The CDS described the recent arrest of Ansaru terrorist commanders as a major success achieved through careful planning and coordination between the Nigerian Air Force, Army, and Navy. He emphasized that synergy among military formations has been key to recent victories in the fight against terrorism.
To enhance continental cooperation, General Musa announced that the Defence Headquarters will host an African Chiefs of Defence Staff conference starting Monday to promote regional synergy in tackling security threats.
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