The Turkish government has raised concerns over the presence of a terrorist group known as the Fethullah Terrorist Organisation (FETO) in Nigeria, warning that its continued activities pose a serious national threat.
Turkish Ambassador-designate to Nigeria, Mehmet Poroy, disclosed this on Tuesday night in Abuja during a dinner hosted by the Turkish Embassy to commemorate Türkiye’s Democracy and National Unity Day.
The annual event marks the failed July 15, 2016, coup attempt in Türkiye, which the government attributes to the FETO network led by exiled cleric Fethullah Gülen.
Poroy said the coup was foiled by the “collective resistance of patriotic forces and citizens,” who stood firmly in defence of the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
“The members of the Gülen movement, which orchestrated the coup attempt, are still being captured and arrested globally. The presence of such an organisation poses a threat to every country in which it operates,” Poroy stated.
He further expressed concern that FETO maintains an active presence in Nigeria, particularly in education and healthcare.
“Unfortunately, the FETO terrorist organisation still maintains its activities in Nigeria, particularly in the fields of education and healthcare,” he said.
“We consistently inform our Nigerian friends about the nature and dangers of this organisation, and urge them to remain vigilant and cautious.”
The envoy noted that through strong international cooperation, the Turkish government has been able to dismantle several FETO cells in allied countries.
He added that Turkish authorities have also taken over many institutions, especially schools, linked to the group’s global network.
However, he admitted that FETO’s international structure has not been completely dismantled.
“The fact that new investigations and arrests into the organisation continue to be launched demonstrates the need for this struggle to be pursued with unwavering determination,” Poroy added.
“In several countries, including Nigeria, FETO continues to disguise its operations under the guise of humanitarian aid, education, healthcare, and interfaith dialogue. But behind this humanitarian appearance lies an organisation that seeks to infiltrate the political and bureaucratic institutions of host countries,” he warned.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Gülen movement, also known as Hizmet (meaning “Service” in Turkish), is a transnational religious, educational, and social organisation founded in the late 1950s by Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen.
Gülen died in October 2024 at 83 in Pennsylvania, United States, where he lived in self-exile.
The Turkish government accused him of masterminding the 2016 coup attempt, which claimed at least 251 lives, and has officially designated his movement as a global terrorist organisation.
Despite the group’s denial of any involvement in terrorism, Türkiye has continued its aggressive international crackdown on FETO, freezing or seizing assets and shutting down affiliated schools, universities, foundations, associations, and businesses.
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and countries such as Pakistan and Northern Cyprus have designated FETO as a terrorist group.
