Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is concerned that the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), which he blames for the failed coup attempt against his government on July 15, 2016, is still operating in Nigeria.
On the occasion of his official visit to Nigeria, Erdogan held a joint press conference with President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday.
Erdogan asked Nigeria, one of Turkey’s oldest allies in Africa, to join him in fighting terrorism in a speech delivered in his native Turkish and interpreted by one of his entourage members. Nigeria is one of Turkey’s oldest allies in Africa, with 60 years of diplomatic ties.
He said: “Distinguished members of the press, as Turkey, we have been closely monitoring the developments unfolding in Nigeria, our brotherly and friendly nation.
“The terrorist organisations, the armed gangs and the marine bandits are continuously active in Nigeria and the Nigerian authorities are continuously fighting against them. So, in order to cooperate further in the fields of military, defense, and security, we are doing everything that will be available.
“As we’re probably aware of the fact that Turkey has been fighting against terrorist organisations for many decades, such as the PKK, PYD, FETO, DASH and other terrorist organisations.
“The perpetrator of the heinous failed coup of July the 15th, FETO, is still illegally active in Nigeria, and we are continuously sharing our intelligence with the Nigerian interlocutors and authorities. I hope and pray that our Nigerian brothers will forge a closer solidarity in this field with us, the Republic of Turkey. I hope and pray that our visit will yield the most auspicious results and I would like to thank my distinguished brother, President Buhari, for being such a gracious host for me and for my delegation”, he said.
