The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) clarifies that the Chief of Defence Staff’s (CDS) recent encouragement for Nigerians to acquire basic survival and self-protection, has been misconstrued in some quarters as a call to bear firearms.
Gen. Musa had during a Channels Television interview on Thursday evening August 20, encouraged Nigerians to develop basic survival and self‑protection skills—likening such training to widely accepted life skills such as driving, taekwando, judo and swimming, boxing amongst others.
But in a statement on Friday, the Director Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Tukur Gusau, said such encouragment by the CDS wws not a call for citizens to bear arms or to engage in unlawful possession of firearms.
According to Gusau, the CDS message was intended to “promote personal resilience, situational awareness and lawful preparedness—not to encourage illegal activity.”
The defence spokesman emphasized that the Nigerian military and other security agencies continue to record significant successes in the fight against insecurity nationwide.
These gains, Gusau said, reflect the government’s sustained commitment to protecting citizens and maintaining peace and stability,assuring Nigerians that their safety remains a top priority.
He said, “Promoting security awareness at all levels is important. Basic skills such as unarmed self‑defence, swimming and driving are valuable life skills that enhance individual preparedness and contribute to national security.”
Gusau urged the public always verified reports when interpreting public statements, and avoid sharing distorted or misleading accounts.
