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From Jude Owuamanam, Jos
Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State has indicated plans by his administration to establish operational bases of the state security outfit, Operation Rainbow, in all 17 local government areas of the state to curb rising insecurity in local areas.
He said that the camps would strengthen intelligence gathering and also act as early warning signals to conventional security agencies.
Mutfwang, who spoke during the passing-out parade of 353 retrained operatives of the security outfit at the Zaria Road stadium in Jos on Monday, said that 11 operational camps had already been established, while vehicles and motorcycles would be distributed to the operatives for deployment to their respective local government areas.
Mutfwang said the state government had provided technology, including drones, to strengthen the agency’s intelligence-gathering capacity, as well as a command and control centre to improve surveillance and the timely transmission of security information.
The governor also disclosed that the agency had provided over 25 gun trucks to Operation Enduring Peace and other security agencies to support their operational movements.
“It is the intention of the state that each local government will have an operational camp that will use drones in getting information in real time and passing it to other security agencies so that they can utilise it,” he said.
The governor explained that Operation Rainbow was primarily an intelligence-gathering outfit and not an armed force, stressing that its personnel were trained to complement conventional security agencies in tackling criminal activities.
“Operation Rainbow basically is an intelligence-gathering outfit. They are not armed to fight on their own. They are trained and retrained so that they can complement the conventional security forces,” the governor said.
Mutfwang added that the operatives, being residents of the communities where they operate, possessed knowledge of the terrain that could assist security agencies in identifying threats and responding to emergencies.
“These are locals; they know the terrain, and whenever there is a shortage of personnel, the operatives of Operation Rainbow can be handy,” he said.
He said the state had established the Plateau State Special Activities Centre, known as PSAC, equipped with drones and monitoring facilities to enable security authorities to monitor developments across the state in real time.
Mutfwang, who described peace and security as cardinal priorities of his administration, said the retraining of the operatives was aimed at improving their professional competence, discipline, intelligence gathering and ability to provide early warnings against security threats.
He urged the operatives to uphold professionalism, integrity and restraint in the discharge of their duties, warning that they were not above the law.
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“As you go into the field to protect your communities, you must carry yourselves with professionalism, integrity and restraint.
“Let me remind you that as you have been trained and retrained to enforce the law and protect citizens, you are not above the law. You are partners and guardians of the law,” he said.
The governor further directed the operatives to work in collaboration with conventional security agencies, traditional institutions and community leaders, stressing that intelligence sharing and mutual cooperation were essential to achieving lasting peace.
He also warned against what he described as deliberate attempts by some individuals to discredit security operatives through social media, saying such actions could undermine security operations and embolden criminals.
“There has been a lot of noise on social media. Some people who support criminality are trying to ensure that they give our security operatives a bad name in order to discourage them.
“We have seen attacks on the DSS, on the Mobile Police, on Operation Rainbow,” he said.
Mutfwang maintained that complaints against security personnel should be channelled through appropriate authorities rather than social media.
“If there is a genuine complaint of overreach by any of the security operatives, it is the right to channel it. It is not by going to social media to fight a war against these security agencies and eventually embolden criminals within our borders,” he stated.
He warned residents, particularly young people, against circulating unverified information, noting that false reports could endanger lives and jeopardise ongoing security operations.
“Every wrong information you put out there puts many lives in danger. You must exercise restraint and ensure that you do not put other lives in jeopardy,” he said.
Following growing concerns that the composition of the outfit was sectional, Mutfwang said that the outfit reflected the diversity of Plateau State.
The Coordinator of Operation Rainbow, Brig. Gen. Nash Yakubu (retd), speaking earlier, said that the retraining of the operatives had become imperative to equip them with the skills required to address contemporary security challenges in Plateau.
He said the training was designed to maintain effective communication and coordination and to improve the operatives’ ability to identify early warning signals, assess and respond to security threats, monitor suspicious activities and handle emergencies.
