The Turkish government has warned over the continued presence of members of the Fethullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) in Nigeria, stating that the group still operates under various disguises in several countries around the world
Mehmet Poroy, Turkey’s Ambassador-designate to Nigeria, made the disclosure on Tuesday night during a dinner hosted by the Turkish Embassy in Abuja to commemorate Turkey’s Democracy and National Unity Day. The annual event marks the failed July 15, 2016, coup attempt in Turkey, which the government blames on FETO.
According to Poroy, members of the Gülen movement—accused of masterminding the coup—continue to pose a global security threat. He said:
“They are still being captured and arrested today. The presence of such an organisation poses a threat to every country in which it operates.”
The ambassador specifically warned that FETO remains active in Nigeria, especially in the education and healthcare sectors.
“Unfortunately, the FETO terrorist organisation still maintains its activities in Nigeria, particularly in the fields of education and healthcare.
We consistently inform our Nigerian friends about the nature and dangers of this organisation, and urge them to remain vigilant and cautious,” he added.
Poroy emphasized that, through international cooperation, Turkey has dismantled several FETO-linked networks globally, with many of their institutions—particularly schools—being taken over by Turkish-backed bodies. However, he acknowledged that the group’s global influence is not yet fully dismantled.
“In several countries, including Nigeria, FETO continues to pump its operations under the presence of humanitarian aid, education, healthcare, and interfaith dialogue,” he warned.
“You must not forget that behind this humanitarian appearance lies an organisation that seeks to infiltrate the political and bureaucratic institutions of host countries.”
FETO, also known as the Gülen movement or Hizmet, was founded in the 1950s by Fethullah Gülen, a Turkish Islamic cleric who died in exile in October 2024 in Pennsylvania, USA, at the age of 83.
The Turkish government holds Gülen responsible for the 2016 failed coup that left at least 251 people dead and has since designated his movement as a terrorist organization. The group, however, denies the allegations.
In the nine years following the coup attempt, Ankara has continued a sweeping global campaign against the movement, shutting down or taking control of numerous Gülen-linked schools, foundations, and companies, and freezing billions in assets.
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Pakistan, and Northern Cyprus are among those who have officially designated FETO as a terrorist group.
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God have mercy
Na wa oo