The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has dismissed claims by Turkey’s Ambassador-designate to Nigeria, Mehmet Poroy, that a so-called ‘FETO Terrorist Group’ is operating within the country.
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At a press briefing on Thursday in Abuja, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Markus Kangye, stated that the Nigerian military does not recognise the existence of such a group, nor has it received any official or credible intelligence substantiating the allegation.
Kangye was reacting to Poroy’s remarks made during a dinner in Abuja on Tuesday in honour of Turkey’s Democracy and National Unity Day. The ambassador-designate had alleged that members of the Fethullah Terrorist Organisation (FETO), which Ankara blames for a 2016 failed coup, were active in Nigeria under the guise of running schools and health institutions.
Poroy had further urged Nigerian authorities to remain alert and had claimed that Turkish officials had been regularly updating Nigeria on FETO’s alleged subversive activities.
Responding to these assertions, Maj.-Gen. Kangye insisted that Nigeria is a sovereign nation that bases its national security decisions on its own intelligence and strategic assessments.
“Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and there is freedom of expression. However, Nigeria, as a sovereign nation, makes decisions based on its own intelligence and national interests,” he said.
He reiterated that the DHQ does not treat such claims as official or actionable unless verified through Nigeria’s internal security apparatus.
Kangye also cautioned against the indiscriminate acceptance of foreign narratives, which he warned could sow distrust and threaten national cohesion.
“We cannot blindly accept external narratives about Nigeria without our own independent evaluation. The Nigerian military operates under its own code of conduct and guidelines,” he added.
While acknowledging Nigeria’s diplomatic and defence ties with countries across the globe, Kangye noted the increasing role of psychological operations and international propaganda in shaping global perceptions.
He reaffirmed the Nigerian military’s commitment to counterterrorism efforts rooted in national priorities, intelligence, and a robust assessment of threats — not external pressure.
“Nigeria will continue to defend its territorial integrity and address all security concerns through independent, well-informed strategies,” Kangye concluded.
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