Shehu Sani Reacts to Defence Chief’s Call for Nigerians to Acquire Self-Defence Skills

 

Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has weighed in on the recent call by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, urging Nigerians to embrace self-defence training as a way of protecting themselves from insecurity.

General Musa, during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, stressed the importance of Nigerians acquiring basic combat skills, noting that personal preparedness could play a role in enhancing national security. According to him, while the military continues its fight against insecurity, citizens must also be equipped with practical skills to safeguard themselves in case of emergencies.

Reacting to this on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, Sani endorsed the idea of Nigerians learning self-defence but injected a note of caution. He recommended that individuals take up training in martial arts and combat sports such as Judo, Karate, Kung Fu, Taekwondo, Boxing, or even Wrestling. However, he warned that while such skills could boost confidence and personal safety in certain situations, they would hardly make a difference in the face of armed bandits.

Sani wrote:

“The CDS, my brother Musa, recommended combat skills for self-defence. I suggest everyone should enrol for training in any of the following Judo, Karate, Kung Fu, Taekwondo, Boxing, or Wrestling but it may not help you in case of bandits.”

The former lawmaker’s comments have sparked conversations online, with some Nigerians supporting the Defence Chief’s advice as a practical step, while others argue that self-defence techniques are inadequate against sophisticated criminal groups wielding firearms.

Security analysts note that the CDS’s call is not entirely new, as several communities in Nigeria especially in rural areas have already resorted to local vigilante groups and basic self-defence training to confront rising cases of kidnapping, banditry, and armed robbery.

Sani, however, emphasized the need for the government to intensify efforts in providing real security solutions, insisting that martial arts classes can never be a substitute for effective policing and military intervention against heavily armed criminal gangs.