The Turkish government has issued a stern warning about the operations of the Fethullah Terrorist Organisation (FETO) in Nigeria, describing the group as a global security threat with networks active in education and healthcare sectors across multiple countries.
The alarm was raised by Türkiye’s Ambassador-designate to Nigeria, Mehmet Poroy, during a dinner event in Abuja on Tuesday night to commemorate Türkiye’s Democracy and National Unity Day—an annual remembrance of the failed July 15, 2016 coup, which the Turkish government blames on the FETO network.
Speaking at the event, Ambassador Poroy emphasized that the Gülen movement, which Türkiye officially designates as FETO, remains operational in various parts of the world and poses a serious risk to national sovereignty wherever it exists.
“They are still being captured and arrested today. The presence of such an organisation poses a threat to every country in which it operates,” Poroy said.
He specifically noted that FETO maintains active operations in Nigeria, particularly in sectors like education and healthcare. Poroy added that the Turkish government has continued to alert Nigerian authorities about the group’s activities and urged for heightened vigilance.
“Unfortunately, the FETO terrorist organisation still maintains its activities in Nigeria. We consistently inform our Nigerian friends about the nature and dangers of this organisation and urge them to remain vigilant,” he warned.
According to Poroy, Türkiye has, through international cooperation, managed to dismantle numerous FETO-linked networks, particularly those masquerading as schools and humanitarian organisations. While some institutions have been taken over by Turkish authorities, many cells remain active globally, he said.
“Behind this humanitarian appearance lies an organisation that seeks to infiltrate the political and bureaucratic institutions of host countries,” he cautioned.
FETO, known locally in Turkey as the Hizmet (Service) Movement, was founded by Fethullah Gülen, a Turkish Islamic cleric who died in October 2024 at the age of 83 in Pennsylvania, USA, where he had lived in exile. Türkiye accuses him of orchestrating the 2016 failed coup, which claimed at least 251 lives and injured thousands.
Despite its global reach and denial of terrorist links, FETO has been formally designated as a terrorist organisation by Türkiye and other international bodies, including:
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The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)
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The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
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Countries such as Pakistan and Northern Cyprus
Since the coup attempt, the Turkish government has launched a sweeping international crackdown, targeting FETO-linked assets, schools, businesses, and NGOs, freezing billions of dollars worth of resources.
Ambassador Poroy concluded by reiterating the importance of continued vigilance, stating that the fight against FETO’s influence must continue with determination to ensure peace and stability within partner nations like Nigeria.
