The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has urged Nigerians to acquire combat skills as a means of safeguarding themselves in times of danger.

The defence chief stated this as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Thursday.

He likened the acquisition of martial arts like Karate, Taekwondo, and Judo to driving, swimming and other survival skills.

Asked whether he would advise Nigerians to learn combat skills for self-defence, General Musa said, “That one should be taken as learning driving, learning how to swim. Whether we have war or not, it is a survival instinct.

“In Europe, swimming is compulsory. Learning and teaching about security (is compulsory) because you have to learn what security is.”

General Musa said the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) ought to train Nigerian graduates on unarmed combat skills for day-to-day survival against dark-hearted men.

He said, “That’s what the NYSC is supposed to do, but the NYSC has been watered down to three weeks.

“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.”

General Musa said security is the business of all Nigerians, even as he urged citizens to be situationally aware of their surroundings to fish out strange and suspicious faces

‘Terrorists Using Gold To Fund Operations’

General Musa said terrorists in Nigeria are increasingly using gold as a means to finance their operations.

He explained that terror financiers rely on complex networks, including international connections, which make it difficult to immediately expose or prosecute them.

When asked about the main source of financing for these groups, the defence chief replied, “Gold. They try to circulate this money, and that is why it is important for us to be able to track these things.

“The process is on. It has to do with a lot of legal issues, and because it has to do with international connections, some of them have funds coming from outside, we cannot do anything from within.”

He admitted that bad road networks and difficult terrains are limiting the military’s ability to respond swiftly to terror and bandit attacks across Nigeria.

General Musa said many Nigerians often expect immediate intervention from members of the Armed Forces without understanding the logistical challenges involved.

“A lot of people think (members of) the military are magicians; we are not, we are humans just like anybody. Most times, in these areas where attacks occur, there are either no networks or the roads are very bad.

“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 said.

The defence chief explained that in the North-East, the threat of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) makes movement particularly slow.

He assured Nigerians that troops are on the trail of insurgents and won’t relent until they are crushed.

‘Southeast Better After Simon Ekpa’s Arrest’

General Musa also said that pro-Biafran agitator, Simon Ekpa, who was arrested in Finland in November 2024 for terrorism-related offences, is still being prosecuted by the Finnish authorities.

The defence chief said that since Ekpa’s arrest last November, relative peace has been experienced in the Southeast geopolitical zone of the country.

General Musa said troops have activated operations to apprehend Ekpa’s lieutenants in Imo, Enugu, Anambra, Ebonyi and Abia states – all in the Southeast zone.

The defence chief said, “He (Ekpa) is still undergoing prosecution in Finland. So, we are hopeful. When we talked about him, people thought we were making noise, but since he has been arrested, the Southeast is getting better.

“We are going to go after the likes of him, wherever they are, and whatever it takes until we bring them down.

“That’s why the Ansaru (leaders’ arrest) is a good win for all of us. There are other ones we don’t talk about, we will also look at them and pull them out.”

The defence chief described the arrest of Ansaru terrorist commanders as significant, adding that thorough planning by the Nigerian Air Force, the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Navy went into the operation.

General Musa said synergy among the various military formations was responsible for the recent arrest of Ansaru terrorist leaders.

“What has changed is that we have synergy with all the organisations… and that is why we have seen all the successes.”

He said to achieve more results in the anti-terror war, the Defence Headquarters would organise an African Chiefs of Defence Staff conference starting Monday for continental synergy.