Turkey President, Recep Erdogan has made a startling revelation, saying that terrorists who tried to remove him from office through a coup in 2016 are still active in Nigeria.
Speaking during a joint press conference with the President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja, Erdogan added that his administration will share intelligence with the Nigerian authorities that will assist in fighting the terrorists.
He said: “As Turkey, we have been closely monitoring the development in Nigeria, our brotherly and friendly nation. The terrorist organisations, the armed gangs and the marine vendors are continuously active in Nigeria and the Nigerian authorities are continuously fighting them.
“In order to cooperate further in the field of military operations, defence and security, we are doing everything that will be available. We are ready to share our capabilities, every extending capacity as Turkey with Nigeria, especially in the field of defence, industry and security which are being praised by the globe.
“The sensitivity we show in fighting terrorism, I hope will be reciprocated by our Nigerian brothers and sisters and our counterparts. The perpetrators of the heinous failed coup of July the 15 FETO are still very active in Nigeria. And we are continually sharing our intelligence with Nigerian interlocutors and authorities.”
Theideal recalls that Erdogan had in 2016 accused allies of renowned cleric, Fethullah Gulen, who own Turkish schools and hospitals across Nigeria of sponsoring the coup.
Turkish envoy in Nigeria, Mr. Hakan Cakil, had at the time called on Buhari to close the Turkish schools and hospitals in Nigeria belonging to a group of private Turkish investors, who he claimed, are inspired by the philosophy of the Hizmet movement.
But the Federal Government had rejected the proposal, leading to tension between both countries.
The Turkish President also disclosed during the press briefing that he hoped to expand trade volume from the current $2bn to $5bn between Nigeria and his country.
He said he was hopeful that the relations between Nigeria and Turkey would be further developed on the basis of a win-win situation and on the basis of mutual respect.
On his part, Buhari disclosed that he signed eight major agreements/Memoranda of Understanding on several key sectors including energy, defense industry, mining and hydrocarbons among others.
He added that the implementation of all eight agreements will begin immediately.
