The Turkish government has issued a strong warning about the growing presence of the Fethullah Terrorist Organisation (FETO) in Nigeria, calling it a serious threat to national security.
Speaking on Tuesday night of July 15, 2025, in Abuja, Turkish Ambassador-designate to Nigeria, Mehmet Poroy, expressed concern over FETO’s activities during a dinner event hosted by the Turkish Embassy to mark Türkiye’s Democracy and National Unity Day.
The annual commemoration honors the failed July 15, 2016 coup attempt in Türkiye, which the Turkish government blames on the FETO network led by exiled cleric Fethullah Gülen.
According to Poroy, the attempted coup was stopped by the “collective resistance of patriotic forces and citizens” who defended President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government.
However, Poroy warned that FETO remains active worldwide, including in Nigeria, especially in sectors like education and healthcare.
“The presence of such an organisation poses a threat to every country in which it operates,” he stated.
Poroy revealed that Turkish authorities continue to capture and arrest members of the movement globally.
He added that Türkiye has already taken control of several FETO-linked institutions in allied nations.
“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 Turkish envoy explained that while many of FETO’s cells abroad have been dismantled, its international structure has not yet been fully neutralized.
He emphasized that in countries like Nigeria, the group disguises itself under humanitarian banners.
“FETO continues to operate under the guise of aid, interfaith dialogue, education, and healthcare,” Poroy said.
“But behind this appearance is a dangerous organisation seeking to infiltrate political and bureaucratic systems.”
Fethullah Gülen, founder of the movement, lived in self-exile in Pennsylvania until his death in October 2024 at the age of 83.
While the group officially denies links to terrorism, Türkiye blames Gülen for the 2016 coup, which resulted in over 251 deaths.
Türkiye has since intensified its global crackdown on the group, shutting down its schools, freezing assets, and pressuring allies to ban its operations.
Countries like Pakistan, Northern Cyprus, and organisations such as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) have officially designated FETO as a terrorist organisation.
