The Turkish government has warned that members of the Fethullah Terrorist Organisation live in Nigeria and operate in other countries across the world.
Mehmet Poroy, Turkey’s Ambassador-designate to Nigeria, has stated that the terrorist group is using schools and health care facilities to conceal its operations in the country.
Poroy said this on Tuesday night in Abuja during a dinner hosted by the Turkish Embassy to commemorate the country’s Democracy and National Unity Day.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the celebration is performed annually to commemorate the failed coup in Turkey on July 15, 2016, which was purportedly staged by the so-called FETO terrorists.
The Turkish administration credited patriotic soldiers and citizens for effectively quelling the attempt against President Recep Erdoğan.
According to Ambassador Poroy, members of the Gülen movement, which backed the coup, are still being captured and detained around the world, making their presence in any country a severe national threat.
“They are still being captured and arrested today. The presence of such an organisation poses a threat to every country in which it operates.
“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,” Poroy said.
The Turkish diplomat noted that, through international cooperation, Turkey has successfully broken several FETO cells and networks functioning in friendly nations around the world.
According to him, various institutions, particularly schools that are part of FETO’s foreign network, have been taken over by Turkish entities.
He, however, emphasised that the group’s international structures have not been fully dismantled globally.
“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.
“In several countries, including Nigeria, FETO continues to pump its operations under the guise of humanitarian aid, education, healthcare, and interfaith dialogue.
“You must not forget that behind this humanitarian appearance lies an organisation that seeks to infiltrate the political and bureaucratic institutions of host countries,” Poroy warned.
According to NAN, the Gülen movement (also known as Hizmet or Service in Turkish) is a multinational religious, educational, and social organisation that was started in late 1950.
Its founder, Turkish Islamic philosopher Fethullah Gülen, died as a Turkish fugitive in Pennsylvania, United States, in October 2024 at the age of 83.
The Turkish government accuses Gülen of orchestrating the 2016 violent coup, which killed at least 251 people, and has officially branded the group as a global terrorist organisation.
Nine years after the coup, Turkey has continued its strong global campaign against the group, claiming that it is still active around the world, despite the group’s denial of terrorism.
Türkiye has launched a broad global assault on the group, seizing or freezing billions of dollars in Gülen-related assets and institutions, including schools, universities, foundations, associations, and businesses.
NAN also states that the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and nations such as Pakistan and Northern Cyprus have recognised FETO as a terrorist organisation.
