Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has defended his decision to use an armoured personnel carrier (APC) during a public appearance in Jos following a recent attack. Speaking to reporters, Mutfwang said the military-provided vehicle was necessary for visibility, not security. "From the height I stood, part of the reason they put me in the ATC was for me to gain height in order to address the crowd," he explained. The APC was deployed during a gathering at the Government House grounds, shortly after deadly clashes rocked the city. Mutfwang's appearance in the vehicle sparked public debate over the militarisation of civilian governance. He maintained that the use of the APC was situational and not a reflection of escalating insecurity. No official casualty figures were released from the incident that prompted the military presence.
Governor Mutfwang appearing in an APC to speak to people in Jos does not erase the fact that he needed one in the first place. The explanation that it was for height, not safety, rings hollow when such vehicles are symbols of conflict zones. For residents of Jos, this moment underscores how normalised military presence has become in civilian life. If a governor feels the need to stand in an armoured vehicle to be seen, the state's stability is already in question.
