Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has defended his use of an armoured personnel carrier (APC) during a visit to Angwan Rukuba in Jos North Local Government Area, following a deadly attack on the community, describing the portrayal of the incident on social media as misleading.

The governor visited the area after suspected bandits reportedly killed about 28 people and injured several others on Sunday evening. He arrived at the scene on Monday with a heavy security presence and initially addressed residents from an armoured vehicle as a large, agitated crowd gathered around his convoy.

Clips from the visit quickly circulated online, sparking widespread reactions and debate, with some suggesting that the governor’s actions reflected fear or detachment from the people.

However, speaking on Channels Television’s *Politics Today* programme on Friday, Mutfwang dismissed such claims, stating that his actions were guided strictly by security advice.

According to the governor, he had been in Abuja attending official engagements, including a high-level security meeting, when he received news of the attack and promptly returned to Plateau State.

He explained that residents had initially refused to allow the evacuation of victims’ bodies until he arrived at the scene.

“Unless they see the governor, they are not going to allow those corpses to be evacuated,” he said.

Mutfwang noted that although he intended to proceed directly to the affected community, security personnel advised caution, citing concerns about a potentially volatile environment.

“The security personnel have a duty to protect me, and if they assess that the situation is hostile, they must act accordingly,” he said.

Despite the risks, the governor said he insisted on visiting the community immediately rather than waiting for tensions to subside.

“I could have stayed back until the situation calmed down, but I chose to go to the scene,” he added.

He further clarified that standing through the hatch of the armoured vehicle was a practical decision to enable him to address the large crowd effectively.

“It was necessary to gain some height in order to communicate with the people,” he explained, adding that residents later reassured him of their goodwill and encouraged him to come closer.

The governor also criticised what he described as selective reporting on social media, arguing that the widely circulated clips failed to capture the full extent of his engagement with the community.

“For most of the time, I was with the people—seeing the victims, appealing for calm, and addressing their concerns. Unfortunately, only a small portion was highlighted and taken out of context,” he said.

Mutfwang maintained that he felt safe among the residents throughout the visit but emphasised that security decisions ultimately rested with his protection team.

“I was comfortable with the people and confident they meant no harm, but security assessments had to be respected,” he said.