From Boko Haram to smaller extremist factions, Nigeria continues to grapple with the presence of various terrorist groups. Now, the Turkish government has raised concerns over the operations of the Fethullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) within the country, warning that the group poses a global threat.
Mehmet Poroy, the Turkish Ambassador-designate to Nigeria, issued the warning during a dinner held Tuesday night in Abuja to commemorate Turkey’s Democracy and National Unity Day. The annual event marks the failed coup attempt of July 15, 2016, which Ankara attributes to FETO—a group it claims attempted to overthrow President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government.
Ambassador Poroy stated that members of the Gülen movement—founded by the late Turkish cleric Fethullah Gülen—are still being arrested worldwide. He emphasized that their continued activities in any country represent a serious security risk.
“FETO members are still being captured and arrested. Their presence poses a threat to any country in which they operate,” Poroy said. “Unfortunately, the FETO terrorist organisation remains active in Nigeria, particularly in sectors like education and healthcare.”
He added that the Turkish government regularly briefs Nigerian authorities about the group’s activities and urges ongoing vigilance.
Poroy noted that through global cooperation, Türkiye has successfully dismantled many of FETO’s international cells and networks, including educational institutions believed to be affiliated with the group. However, he cautioned that FETO’s operations have not been completely eliminated.
“The continuation of arrests and investigations around the world shows that this threat requires persistent and determined action,” he said. “In countries like Nigeria, FETO maintains a presence under the guise of humanitarian work, education, healthcare, and interfaith dialogue. But beneath this humanitarian image lies a group aiming to infiltrate political and bureaucratic systems.”
The Gülen movement—also known as Hizmet (Service)—originated in the 1950s as a religious and educational initiative. Its founder, Fethullah Gülen, died in October 2024 in Pennsylvania, USA, at the age of 83, while living in exile. The Turkish government has officially designated the movement as a terrorist organisation and blames it for the 2016 coup attempt that left at least 251 people dead.
Since then, Türkiye has pursued an aggressive international crackdown, seizing or shutting down schools, universities, foundations, and businesses linked to the movement. Billions of dollars in assets have reportedly been confiscated or frozen.
Several international bodies and countries—including the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Pakistan, and Northern Cyprus—have formally recognized FETO as a terrorist organisation. However, the movement continues to deny any involvement in the coup or links to terrorism.
