The Federal Government on Wednesday denied the existence of any new terrorist group operating within Nigeria, responding to recent claims made by the Turkish government.
The clarification followed a statement by the Turkish Ambassador-designate to Nigeria, Mehmet Poroy, who alleged that members of the Fethullah Terrorist Organisation (FETO) were active in Nigeria under the guise of educational and healthcare services.
Poroy made the comments recently during a dinner event held by the Turkish Embassy in Abuja 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,” the Turkish envoy stated. “Unfortunately, the FETO terrorist organisation still maintains its activities in Nigeria, particularly in the fields of education and healthcare.”
He further explained that Turkey had consistently warned Nigerian authorities about the group’s activities and urged the country to remain cautious and vigilant.
In reaction, the Nigerian government dismissed the notion of a new threat, reiterating that the nation’s security architecture had not recorded any credible intelligence indicating the presence of such a group operating as a terror organisation within its borders.
A senior government official who spoke under condition of anonymity said, “Nigeria maintains robust diplomatic ties with Turkey and appreciates intelligence-sharing cooperation, but we have not classified FETO as a terrorist organisation under Nigerian law.”
The official added that all institutions operating in Nigeria whether local or foreign must adhere to national regulations and undergo regular scrutiny.
