By Atoyebi Nike
The Turkish government has warned that the Fethullah Terrorist Organisation (FETO), which it blames for the 2016 failed coup, is operating in Nigeria under the guise of providing education and healthcare services.
Speaking in Abuja at a Democracy and National Unity Day dinner hosted by the Turkish Embassy, Turkey’s Ambassador-designate to Nigeria, Mehmet Poroy, described FETO’s presence as a threat to national security.
“They are still being captured and arrested today,” Poroy said. “Unfortunately, the FETO terrorist organisation still maintains its activities in Nigeria, particularly in the fields of education and healthcare.”
The annual event commemorates the July 15, 2016, attempted coup in Türkiye, which the Turkish government says was masterminded by FETO’s leader, the late Islamic cleric Fethullah Gülen, who died in 2024 in the U.S.
Poroy stated that Ankara has dismantled several FETO networks globally through international cooperation and taken over many affiliated schools and institutions.
He cautioned that the group’s structures remain active in several countries, including Nigeria, continuing to operate under humanitarian covers like interfaith dialogue and aid programmes.
“You must not forget that behind this humanitarian appearance lies an organisation that seeks to infiltrate the political and bureaucratic institutions of host countries,” he said.
Turkey has labelled FETO a terrorist organisation, and its global crackdown has seen the seizure of schools, foundations, and companies linked to the movement. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the Gulf Cooperation Council, Pakistan, and Northern Cyprus also recognize FETO as a terrorist entity.
