The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has denied claims that a new terror group, the Fethullah Terrorist Organisation (FETO), is operating in Nigeria.
Major General Markus Kangye, Director of Defence Media Operations, on Thursday, July 17, 2025, dismissed the Turkish allegations.
He said Nigeria remains fully capable of handling its own security matters.
Diaspora Digital Media reported that Turkey’s ambassador-designate, Mehmet Poroy, on Tuesday during a dinner in Abuja, marking Turkey’s Democracy and National Unity Day, Poroy alleged that FETO members were using schools and health centres in Nigeria as a cover.
According to Poroy, the group poses a major threat wherever it operates.
He claimed FETO is still active in Nigeria and urged the government to stay vigilant.
But Nigeria’s military leadership quickly pushed back. Speaking to reporters in Abuja, General Kangye said the Defence Headquarters does not recognize Turkey’s claims as official.
“That comment is not from an official Nigerian source,” Kangye said. “People are free to say what they want, but that does not make it credible.”
He added that Nigeria is a sovereign country. Its security strategy is based on verified intelligence and national interest, not foreign pressure.
“We cannot take external reports as facts without our own investigations,” Kangye stated. “The Nigerian military has its own guidelines and knows how to operate.”
Kangye also warned against falling for foreign propaganda. He said psychological operations and disinformation are global tools used to stir instability.
“There are propagandists everywhere. Psychological tactics are real. That’s why we must stay alert,” he warned.
Despite diplomatic ties with several countries, Kangye stressed that Nigeria would not allow foreign narratives to shape its policies.
He reaffirmed that Nigeria remains committed to defeating terrorism. However, it will do so based on national priorities and its internal intelligence systems.
In his closing remarks, Kangye noted that international cooperation is important, but Nigeria’s security decisions will always reflect its independence.