The Nigerian government has denied reports of a new terrorist organisation operating within its borders, following warnings by the Turkish government about the alleged presence of the Fethullah Terrorist Organisation (FETO) in the country.
Turkish Ambassador-designate to Nigeria, Mehmet Poroy, raised the alarm during a dinner in Abuja on Tuesday to mark Turkey’s Democracy and National Unity Day. Poroy accused the group—linked to the late Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen—of using educational and healthcare institutions in Nigeria as a front for covert operations.
“The presence of such an organisation poses a threat to every country in which it operates,” Poroy said. “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.”
In a swift response, however, Nigerian authorities downplayed the claims. Maj Gen Adamu Laka, the Coordinator of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, told The PUNCH that there was no evidence of any new terrorist organisation in the country. “There is no new terrorist group in Nigeria. There’s no need to panic,” Laka stated.
FETO is the name given by Turkish authorities to the network associated with Fethullah Gulen, a former ally of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Gulen, who died in 2024 at the age of 83, was accused of masterminding the failed 2016 coup in Turkey—a charge he consistently denied. Tried in absentia, Gulen was convicted by Turkish courts and his global movement declared a terrorist group by Ankara.
Though Gulen-affiliated schools and charities operate in more than 160 countries, including Nigeria, there is no public evidence or official finding that ties these institutions to extremist or terrorist activities on Nigerian soil.
The episode highlights the diplomatic tightrope walked by Nigeria, as it balances foreign relations with national security assurances. For now, authorities in Abuja maintain that the situation remains under control and that the public should not be alarmed.
