The Federal Government has refuted claims by the Turkish government alleging the presence of a new terrorist group operating within Nigeria.
This clarification comes after Turkish Ambassador-designate to Nigeria, Mehmet Poroy, raised alarm over the alleged activities of the Fethullah Terrorist Organisation (FETO) in Nigeria, asserting that the group is operating under the guise of educational and healthcare institutions.
Speaking during a dinner hosted by the Turkish Embassy in Abuja on Tuesday to mark Türkiye’s Democracy and National Unity Day, Poroy warned that the group posed a global threat and maintained an active presence in Nigeria.
“Unfortunately, the FETO terrorist organisation still maintains its activities in Nigeria, particularly in the fields of education and healthcare,” the envoy stated.
“We consistently inform our Nigerian friends about the nature and dangers of this organisation and urge them to remain vigilant and cautious.”
However, responding to the claims, Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka, Coordinator of Nigeria’s National Counter-Terrorism Centre, urged the public to remain calm, assuring citizens that there is no new terrorist organisation currently operating in the country.
“There is no new terrorist group in Nigeria. There’s no need to panic,” Laka said in an interview with Hobnob News.
FETO is linked to the late Turkish Islamic cleric, Fethullah Gülen, who was once a close ally of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan before being accused of masterminding a failed coup in 2016. Gülen, who passed away in 2024 in the United States, had consistently denied the charges.
While institutions inspired by the Gülen movement are reportedly present in over 160 countries, including Nigeria, there has been no public evidence linking them to terror-related activities on Nigerian soil.
Despite this, Turkey continues its global crackdown on FETO-affiliated institutions, urging host nations to shut them down.
As the matter unfolds, the Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to national security and assured the public that every foreign intelligence claim is critically assessed within Nigeria’s security architecture.
