The Turkish government has raised alarm over the presence of members of the Fethullah Terrorist Organisation (FETO) in Nigeria, warning that their activities pose a serious national security threat. This warning was issued by Mehmet Poroy, the Turkish Ambassador-designate to Nigeria, during a dinner hosted by the Turkish Embassy in Abuja on Tuesday night to mark Turkey’s Democracy and National Unity Day. The annual commemoration honours the citizens and security forces who resisted the July 15, 2016 failed coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government, allegedly orchestrated by the FETO network.
Ambassador Poroy revealed that members of the Gülen movement, widely believed to have masterminded the coup attempt, are still operating globally and remain a threat wherever they exist. “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 noted with concern that the group remains active in Nigeria, particularly within the education and healthcare sectors. “Unfortunately, the FETO terrorist organisation still maintains its activities in Nigeria, particularly in the fields of education and healthcare,” he stated. “We consistently inform our Nigerian friends about the nature and dangers of this organisation and urge them to remain vigilant and cautious.”
Poroy disclosed that through international cooperation, Turkey has successfully dismantled numerous FETO cells and networks operating in allied countries. Many institutions previously linked to the group, especially schools, have been taken over by Turkish government-backed institutions. However, he emphasised that FETO’s international structures are yet to be fully dismantled. “The fact that new investigations and arrests into the organisation continue to be launched demonstrates the need for this struggle to be pursued with unwavering determination,” he said.
“In several countries, including Nigeria, FETO continues to operate under the guise of humanitarian aid, education, healthcare, and interfaith dialogue. Behind this humanitarian appearance lies an organisation that seeks to infiltrate the political and bureaucratic institutions of host countries.” Founded in the late 1950s, the Gülen movement—known as Hizmet, meaning “Service” in Turkish—presents itself as a transnational religious, educational, and social initiative. Its founder, Fethullah Gülen, a Turkish Islamic scholar, lived in self-exile in Pennsylvania, United States, until his death as a fugitive in October 2024 at age 83.
