Nigeria Rejects Turkish Claims of FETO Presence, Reassures Public of National Security
The Federal Government has firmly dismissed recent allegations by the Turkish government that the Fethullah Terrorist Organisation (FETO) is operating within Nigerian territory, urging the public to remain calm and vigilant.
Responding to the claims on Wednesday, the Coordinator of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Major General Adamu Laka, stated that there is “no credible evidence indicating the presence or activities of any new terrorist organisation in the country.” He called for restraint and advised Nigerians against succumbing to unfounded fears.
“There is no need to panic,” Maj. Gen. Laka assured journalists, in reaction to remarks made by Türkiye’s Ambassador-designate to Nigeria, Mr. Mehmet Poroy.
Ambassador Poroy had raised the concern during a dinner hosted by the Turkish Embassy in Abuja to commemorate Türkiye’s Democracy and National Unity Day—an annual event marking the failed coup attempt of July 15, 2016. He claimed that FETO continues to operate globally, including in Nigeria, through educational and healthcare institutions disguised as humanitarian efforts.
“Unfortunately, the FETO terrorist organisation still maintains its activities in Nigeria, particularly in the fields of education and healthcare,” Poroy said. “Such groups, even under the guise of humanitarian work, pose potential threats to the national interests of host countries.”
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FETO is the term used by the Turkish government to refer to the global network of institutions linked to Fethullah Gülen, a former Islamic cleric and political figure who Ankara accuses of masterminding the 2016 coup attempt. Gülen, who denied involvement in the failed coup, lived in self-imposed exile in the United States until his death in 2024 at the age of 83.
Following the coup attempt, Turkey launched a sweeping global campaign to shut down Gülen-affiliated schools, NGOs, and businesses—labeling the network a terrorist organisation. While institutions with historical ties to Gülen exist in more than 160 countries, including Nigeria, no direct link has been established between these organisations and terrorist activities within Nigeria.
Security analysts suggest that the Federal Government’s cautious response reflects a commitment to sovereignty and due process. Despite Ankara’s repeated appeals, Nigerian authorities have neither proscribed FETO nor linked any domestic group to terrorism based on foreign designations.
“The Nigerian government is committed to fighting terrorism in all forms,” one security expert noted, “but it will not act on external pressure without credible domestic intelligence or actionable evidence.”
At present, there are no indications of any ongoing investigation or move to ban any group in Nigeria on the basis of the Turkish government’s claims.
The government’s response is seen as a reaffirmation of Nigeria’s independent counterterrorism strategy, one guided by local intelligence assessments, international law, and the national interest.