By Muhammad Mamman
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has swiftly clarified remarks by Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, amid widespread misinterpretation of his comments on self-defence. In a statement delivered by Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, Director of Defence Information, the military firmly denied that General Musa encouraged Nigerians to take up arms. Instead, he advocated for citizens to master globally recognised self-defence techniques, such as judo, boxing, wrestling, running, swimming, climbing, and even defensive driving, to better protect themselves in daily life as monitored by our correspondent in Kaduna, Brig. Gen. Gusau emphasised, “The CDS is not urging Nigerians to confront bandits or terrorists with weapons.
His message is clear: acquire practical defensive skills. For example, in cases of street attacks or phone snatching, those trained in self-defence can fend off threats without resorting to arms. Carrying weapons without authorisation remains illegal in Nigeria, and offenders will face justice.”
The DHQ underscored that self-defence training is a vital life skill in many countries, often mandatory, and General Musa’s advice aligns with this global practice—not a call for vigilantism. The clarification follows the CDS’s recent television interview, where he urged Nigerians to build resilience amid rising insecurity.
Nigeria continues to battle severe security challenges, particularly in the North-West, North-East, and North-Central regions, where armed groups have killed and displaced thousands. Despite ongoing military efforts, civilian casualties remain high, prompting public debate on safety measures.
The DHQ issued this statement to counter what it described as a “misinterpretation” of General Musa’s remarks, which some misconstrued as a call for citizens to arm themselves. The military reiterated its commitment to public safety and urged Nigerians to embrace skill-based self-defence as a practical response to everyday threats.
