The Turkish government has raised alarms over the continued activities of the Fethullah Terrorist Organisation (FETO) in Nigeria, accusing the group of disguising itself as a humanitarian and educational network.
Mehmet Poroy, Turkey’s Ambassador-designate to Nigeria, issued the warning on Tuesday night during a dinner in Abuja hosted by the Turkish Embassy to mark Turkey’s Democracy and National Unity Day. The annual event commemorates the failed July 15, 2016 coup attempt in Turkey, which Ankara blames on FETO and its exiled founder, the late cleric Fethullah Gülen.
Poroy cautioned that members of the Gülen movement remain active globally and are using fronts such as humanitarian aid, education, healthcare, and interfaith dialogue to expand their influence — including in Nigeria.
“You must not forget that behind this humanitarian appearance lies an organisation that seeks to infiltrate the political and bureaucratic institutions of host countries,” the ambassador said.
According to Poroy, despite international efforts, FETO continues to pose a global threat. “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,” he added.
Founded in the late 1950s by Fethullah Gülen, the group—known in Turkey as “Hizmet” (Service)—presents itself as a transnational religious and social movement. Gülen died in October 2024 at age 83 while living in exile in Pennsylvania, USA.
Turkey has accused him of orchestrating the 2016 coup attempt, which left over 250 people dead. The Turkish government has since labelled FETO a terrorist organisation and has undertaken a sweeping global crackdown, targeting its networks and seizing its assets in various countries.
The crackdown includes the closure of schools, foundations, and companies allegedly linked to the group. Nations and organisations such as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Pakistan, and Northern Cyprus have also officially designated FETO as a terrorist organisation.
Despite these efforts, Turkish officials say FETO continues to operate under different guises and remains a serious international security concern.
