FG Dismisses Claims of New Terror Group in Nigeria Amid Turkish Allegations

The Federal Government has denied the existence of any new terrorist organisation operating within Nigeria, responding to recent allegations made by the Turkish government regarding the presence of the Fethullah Terrorist Organisation (FETO).

The Turkish Ambassador-designate to Nigeria, Mehmet Poroy, had on Tuesday evening in Abuja alleged that FETO continues to operate in Nigeria, using schools and healthcare institutions as a cover for its activities. Poroy made the remarks during a dinner hosted by the Turkish Embassy to mark Turkey’s Democracy and National Unity Day.

“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 stated.

However, in response to the concerns, the Coordinator of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, Major General Adamu Laka, urged Nigerians not to panic, assuring that there is no newly identified terrorist threat in the country.

“There is no new terrorist group in Nigeria. There’s no need to panic,” he said.

FETO is reportedly linked to the late Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen, who died in 2024 at the age of 83. Once an ally of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Gulen was accused of orchestrating a failed coup in Turkey in 2016. Though he denied the allegations, he was convicted in absentia and his global network of schools, charities, and organisations was labelled a terrorist outfit by the Turkish government.

While Gulen-affiliated institutions are said to exist in over 160 countries, including Nigeria, no public evidence has emerged connecting them to terrorist activities within Nigerian borders.