The Turkish government has alerted Nigeria about the presence of a terror group, Fethullah Terrorist Organisation (FETÖ), in the country.
This was communicated by the Turkish Ambassador-designate to Nigeria, Mr Mehmet Poroy, who described Fethullah as a proscribed terrorist organisation in Turkey.
Poroy, who was speaking Tuesday night in Abuja at a dinner organised by the Turkish Embassy to mark the country’s Democracy and National Unity Day, said the terrorist group had been using schools and health facilities as a cover for its activities in Nigeria.
Unity Day is observed annually to mark the failed coup attempt of July 15, 2016, allegedly orchestrated by the so-called FETO network.
He stated that members of the Gülen movement—accused of sponsoring the 2016 coup attempt in Turkey—were still being apprehended globally, which, he said, “makes their presence in any country a potential national security threat.
“They are still being captured and arrested today. The presence of such an organisation poses a threat to every country in which it operates.
“Unfortunately, the FETO terrorist organisation continues its activities in Nigeria, particularly in the fields of education and healthcare.
“We consistently inform our Nigerian counterparts about the nature and dangers of this organisation and urge them to remain vigilant and cautious,” Poroy said.
The Turkish envoy added that, through international cooperation, Turkey has successfully dismantled several FETO cells and networks operating in allied countries around the world.
According to him, many institutions—especially schools that are part of FETO’s international network—have been taken over by Turkish authorities.
However, he acknowledged that the group’s global structures had not yet been fully 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.
“You must not forget that behind this humanitarian appearance lies an organisation that seeks to infiltrate the political and bureaucratic institutions of host countries,” Poroy warned.
Reacting, the Defence Headquarters stated that Nigeria remains an independent nation capable of making its own decisions, particularly on security and counterterrorism matters.
Briefing journalists on the military operations in Abuja on Thursday, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, said the Defence Headquarters does not recognise the claims as official or verified.
“Information from the person you are talking about, as far as Defence Headquarters is concerned, is an unofficial announcement. Everybody is free to say whatever they want. There is freedom of information, “he said.
He noted that Nigeria cannot be swayed by external commentary or claims that do not align with its own intelligence and national interest.
“Nigeria is an independent sovereign nation that can think and act for itself,” Kangye said.
While acknowledging Nigeria’s diplomatic and military relationships with several countries, Kangye cautioned against accepting unverified foreign narratives, especially those that may undermine national integrity or incite suspicion.
“We cannot take what other people are saying about Nigeria and accept it without our own independent assessment. Nigeria knows what it is, and the Nigerian military has its own code of conduct and operational guidelines,” he said.
Kangye also pointed to the rise of global propaganda and psychological operations, suggesting that foreign assertions could be part of broader strategic manoeuvres.
“There are propagandists all over the world. Psychological oppressions go on everywhere. That’s why we must be vigilant,” he added.
Kangye, however, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to fighting terrorism on its own terms, guided by national priorities and internal intelligence.
He reiterated that while the country values its international allies, its security decisions will always reflect its status as a sovereign state.
Also reacting, the Chief Imam of Lagos State University (LASU), Professor Amidu Sanni, says Fethullah, is not involved in terrorist activities in Nigeria but only focuses on humanitarian work.
Sanni made the clarification in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos.
He dismissed the Turkish government’s claims, describing them as unfounded and intended to discredit the organisation due to political disagreements.
He said, “This propaganda is the handiwork of agents of corruption and tyranny seeking to silence dissent and discredit the humanitarian work of the organisation, which is dedicated to supporting the vulnerable in Nigeria.
“FETO has demonstrated an enviable commitment to a global initiative of eradicating ignorance, disease, inter-religious disharmony.
“And to the provision of a sustainable individual and community empowerment all over the world regardless of political, ethnic, and religious affiliations.
“The activities of the organisation are open, verifiable, and impactful. The Turkish government is hereby advised to stop this campaign of falsehood and state-sponsored propaganda of calumny,” he said.
The Gülen movement, (known as Hizmet or Service in Turk language), is purportedly a transnational, religious, educational, and social organisation, founded in late 1950.
Its founder, Fethullah Gülen, a Turkish Islamic scholar, died as a Turkish fugitive in October 2024 at the age of 83, in Pennsylvania, United States.
The Turkish government accuses Gülen of masterminding the 2016 bloody coup, which claimed at least 251 lives, and had officially designated the group as a global terrorist organisation.
NAN also reports that the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Gulf Cooperation Council, as well as countries such as Pakistan and Northern Cyprus, have designated FETO as a terrorist organisation.
It further reports that the Federal Government of Nigeria, on Wednesday, stated that the FETO group was not involved in any terrorist activities within the country.
