Turkey Alerts the Presence of ‘Fethullah’ Terrorist Group in Nigeria.
The Turkish government has once again raised concerns over what it describes as the growing presence of the “Fethullah Terrorist Organization” (FETÖ) in Nigeria, urging authorities in Abuja to take decisive steps to address the situation.
According to Turkish officials, FETÖ an organization led by exiled Islamic cleric Fethullah Gülen — continues to operate in various parts of Africa, including Nigeria, under the guise of educational and charitable institutions. Turkey considers the group responsible for the failed coup attempt of July 15, 2016, and has since designated it a terrorist organization.
A Turkish government spokesperson warned on Tuesday that “FETÖ elements remain active in Nigeria, posing a long-term threat to both Turkey-Nigeria relations and regional stability.” The statement emphasized the organization’s alleged use of schools, NGOs, and business networks to “recruit, radicalize, and finance” its global operations.
This is not the first time Ankara has sounded the alarm over the movement’s activities in Nigeria. During a state visit to Abuja in 2021, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated that FETÖ operatives were “actively undermining legitimate governments across Africa” and urged Nigeria to assist in shutting down affiliated institutions.
In Nigeria, several schools previously linked to the Gülen movement including the Nigerian Tulip International Colleges (NTIC) and Nile University of Nigeria have denied any involvement in terrorism, asserting their commitment to education and transparency.
However, some of these institutions have been quietly handed over to Turkey’s Maarif Foundation, a state-backed education agency tasked with taking control of former FETÖ-linked schools abroad.
Turkish authorities reiterated that their concern was not with the Nigerian state but with what they called a “transnational security threat” operating within its borders. “We continue to offer our partnership to the Nigerian government in tackling this issue through intelligence-sharing, education reform, and lawful extradition where necessary,” the statement added.
Nigerian officials have yet to respond to the latest warning. In previous communications, Abuja has maintained that any allegations of terrorism must follow due process and evidence-based investigation.
FETÖ’s leader, Fethullah Gülen, currently resides in self-imposed exile in the United States. He has denied involvement in the July 15, 2016 coup attempt and has rejected all terrorism allegations, insisting that his movement promotes moderate Islam, education, and interfaith dialogue.
As diplomatic relations between Ankara and Abuja remain largely positive, Turkey’s persistent campaign against FETÖ in Africa is expected to continue shaping security and education discourse across the continent.
