Plateau Operation Rainbow training begins as over 4,000 operatives receive specialised instruction to improve security response and accountability

Plateau State Government has commenced a large-scale training programme for more than 4,000 operatives of Operation Rainbow as part of efforts to strengthen internal security and improve response capacity across the state amid longstanding insecurity challenges.

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The Plateau Operation Rainbow training initiative, confirmed in Jos by Mr. Saka Azimazi, Technical Adviser at the Kukah Centre, follows the completion of a week-long session by the first cohort of trainees.

The programme is designed to enhance operational standards, legal awareness and professional conduct among personnel of the state-backed community security outfit.

Operation Rainbow, established in 2010 under former Governor Jonah Jang, was created to support security agencies in addressing recurring violence that has affected Plateau State for years.

The new training marks a renewed push to improve its effectiveness in responding to security threats and supporting community safety.

Mr. Azimazi explained that the Plateau Operation Rainbow training is based on findings from a baseline assessment that identified capacity gaps within the organisation.

He noted that the programme’s curriculum was shaped to address these shortcomings and strengthen overall performance.

The training is being conducted in batches, with 100 operatives per cohort.

While only about 300 personnel are currently participating out of the total workforce, organisers say the phased approach is intentional and aimed at ensuring sustainable knowledge transfer across the organisation.

Selected participants are expected to act as trainers for their colleagues upon completion.

A key focus of the Plateau Operation Rainbow training is addressing legal and operational gaps within the system.

Azimazi highlighted ambiguities in the enabling law, particularly around procedures for arrest and detention, noting that clearer definitions are necessary to ensure compliance with human rights standards and operational discipline.

The reform effort also includes the development of a standard operating procedure and a review of the legal framework governing the outfit.

These measures are intended to establish clearer guidelines for engagement, accountability mechanisms and oversight structures within the organisation.

The training programme, themed “Improving Community Security Initiative for Accountable Service Delivery,” is supported by the Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria Programme, a partnership involving the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and Tetra Tech International Development, implemented through the Kukah Centre.

Stakeholders have welcomed the initiative as a timely intervention. Legal and peacebuilding representatives emphasised the importance of professionalism, restraint and adherence to the rule of law as central outcomes of the training.

Brigadier General Gakji Shipi (retd.), State Coordinator of Operation Rainbow, also underscored the relevance of the training to field operations, urging participants to engage fully with lessons on rules of engagement and operational conduct.

Participants expressed optimism about the programme’s impact, noting that improved understanding of legal frameworks and community engagement will enhance their effectiveness in the field.

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As Plateau State continues to confront security challenges, the Plateau Operation Rainbow training represents a structured effort to build a more capable, accountable and community-oriented security framework capable of supporting lasting peace and stability in the region.