In a strategic move to bolster security across Plateau State, over 4,000 operatives of Operation Rainbow have commenced specialised training aimed at improving operational standards and tackling the persistent insecurity that has plagued the region for nearly two decades.
The initiative was confirmed in Jos by Mr. Saka Azimazi, Technical Adviser at the Kukah Centre said on Sunday after the first cohort of trainees completed a week‑long session. The training forms part of a broader plan to equip the state’s security outfit with the skills, legal knowledge, and procedures required for disciplined and effective service delivery.
For years, Plateau State has experienced waves of violence, with gunmen attacks leaving thousands of residents dead and scores displaced, in addition to widespread destruction of properties. In response to these security challenges, Operation Rainbow was created in 2010 under the administration of former Governor Jonah Jang as a state‑owned community security outfit.
According to Azimazi, the newly introduced specialised programme was borne out of a detailed assessment that identified significant capacity gaps within the organisation. “We have done a baseline assessment of the capacity of Operation Rainbow, and some of the outcomes of the evaluation informed our topics,” he said.
The training is being rolled out in a three‑batch system, with 100 trainees in each cohort. Although the current numbers are modest relative to the total workforce—about 300 out of nearly 4,000 personnel—Azimazi explained that the approach is intentional. “Our target is to train all the personnel, but we have to start somewhere,” he said, adding that those benefiting from the sessions are expected to serve as trainers to ensure knowledge transfer across the entire force.
Addressing Legal and Operational Gaps
The training is part of a three‑pronged reform agenda that, in addition to capacity building, includes a review of the law establishing Operation Rainbow and the development of a clear standard operating procedure (SOP). Azimazi stressed that the existing legal framework contains vague provisions around critical functions such as arrest and detention.
“There is power for Operation Rainbow to arrest and hand over to another organisation immediately,” he noted. “But what is ‘immediately’ in that legal provision? Is it 30 minutes? One hour? Six hours? Nobody knows.” Clarifying such ambiguities, he said, is crucial to preventing unlawful detention and protecting citizens’ rights.
Azimazi also highlighted the absence of mechanisms to address abuses of power, asking pointedly, “If an operative of Operation Rainbow is said to have abused somebody’s rights, where does the victim go?” This gap, according to him, underscores the need for legal reform and stronger oversight structures.
Institutional and Community Support
The specialised training, themed “Improving Community Security Initiative for Accountable Service Delivery,” is being supported by the Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria Programme—a partnership between the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and Tetra Tech International Development, implemented in collaboration with the Kukah Centre.
In a goodwill message delivered on behalf of Plateau State Attorney General, Mr. Philemon Dafi, Konrad Kentu, Assistant Director of Legal Drafting, urged participants to embrace professionalism, restraint, and respect for the law. “May this programme produce not merely a set of trained personnel but a culture of professionalism, restraint, legal compliance and civic respect that endures,” Kentu said.
Similarly, Nantip Joseph, representing the Plateau State Peace Building Agency, described the training as timely and aligned with ongoing national discussions on decentralised policing. “The establishment and strengthening of Operation Rainbow as a state‑backed community security initiative demonstrates Plateau State’s commitment to innovative and locally responsive security solutions,” Joseph said.
At the opening session, Brig.‑Gen. Gakji Shipi (retd.), State Coordinator of Operation Rainbow, emphasized the relevance of the training to effective field operations. Represented by Fadasah Othman, he urged trainees to pay keen attention, especially to instruction on rules of engagement.
Participants, such as Assistant Superintendent Oga Enokela, expressed optimism about the programme’s potential impact. “While I am out there doing my work, I should know the legal aspect of what I am doing, how to implement it, and how to relate with people around me,” Enokela said.
Looking Ahead
The training is expected to expand progressively to cover all 4,000 personnel, with plans to train additional trainers to ensure sustainability. Successive evaluations of each batch will help refine future sessions and ensure that the objectives of enhanced professionalism and accountability are met.
As Plateau State intensifies efforts to restore peace and security, this foundational training represents a key step toward creating a more responsive, legally grounded, and community‑oriented security apparatus for the people of the state.