The newly elected members of the Fifth Northern Youth Assembly of Nigeria (NYAN) have pledged to support security agencies to eliminate banditry and other security challenges ravaging the region.

The election was held in the Keffi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

The elected members are speaker, Faruq Dangi; deputy speaker, Itodo Godswill; clerk of the assembly, Faisal Maiha; minority whip, Aminu Onipe; and deputy minority leader, Afolabi Godwin.

Others are majority leader Okiti Emmanuel, deputy clerk Muhammad Nuru-Isah, and public relations officer James Jako, among others.

In his acceptance speech, Mr Dangi, who hails from Katsina State, expressed the northern youth’s readiness to partner with the security agencies in intelligence gathering.

This, according to the speaker, is with a view to ending insurgency in the North-East and curbing all forms of criminality in the 19 northern states and the country at large.

He commended President Bola Tinubu’s administration for what he described as “concerted efforts” to rid the country of insecurity and improve the nation’s economy.

Mr Dangi stressed the need for the new assembly to stand as a true parliament of northern youth, not divided by ethnicity, religion, or political interest, but united by purpose, justice, and shared destiny.

“We will amplify the voices of young people who feel unheard. We will engage government, institutions, and stakeholders constructively but fearlessly, always guided by integrity and the rule of law.

“I pledge to lead a speaker’s office that is transparent, accountable, and accessible. This assembly will not belong to a few; however, it belongs to all,” Mr Dangi assured.

Earlier, the speaker of the fourth assembly, Ibrahim Mohammed-Lawal, applauded Mr Tinubu and Nasarawa Governor Abdullahi Sule for their commitment to addressing security challenges across the northern region.

“The Sule-led administration has performed commendably in the area of security, and these achievements made it possible for Nasarawa State to host this important convention,” he noted.

Mr Mohammed-Lawal commended the National Convention Committee for conducting a transparent election.

(NAN)