19 October 2017•Update: 19 October 2017
By Ahmet Sait Akcay
ANKARA
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Thursday he sees no difference between terrorists groups whether it is Daesh or Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) in Turkey or Boko Haram in Nigeria.
Speaking at a joint news conference in capital Ankara alongside his visiting Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari, Erdogan said: “I would like to express that there is no difference between FETO, Daesh, and Boko Haram, no matter what they serve or claim or their name – all of them are gangs of murderers who feed on blood of innocents.”
Boko Haram, a Daesh-affiliated group based in northeastern Nigeria, has killed tens of thousands and displaced 2.3 million from their homes, according to Amnesty International and the UN, and was ranked the world's deadliest terror group by the 2015 Global Terrorism Index.
FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup attempt of July 15, 2016, which left 250 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.
The group also has a considerable global presence, including private educational institutions in Africa that serve as a revenue stream for the terrorist group.
Turkey is trying to take over all FETO-affiliated schools across Africa through its Maarif Foundation, including such schools in Nigeria.
Erdogan reiterated that the fight against FETO was not just for the sake of Turkey, but it would help Turkey’s friends as well.
“Turkey and Nigeria have suffered the same fate on terrorism. Boko Haram terror has claimed the lives of thousands of innocent people and the oppressed in Nigeria.
“Some 1.5 million people have been displaced in the northeastern side due to this terror group.
FETO in Nigeria
“We stand by our Nigerian friends in their fight against terrorism.”
He added that Turkey was willing to share its experience and give all kinds of support for combatting terrorism.
Erdogan urged Nigeria to take steps to shut down FETO-run schools in the country and to coordinate with Turkey in fighting against the terrorist group.
“We are very well aware that FETO institutions do not serve people of the country but [instead they] recruit militants,” he added.
Speaking to reporters, Buhari highlighted the investment potential in his country and invited Turkish business community to look into it.
Buhari later visited the parliament and met Speaker Ismail Kahraman following his meeting with Erdogan.
Kahraman showed him the parts of the parliament that had been bombed during the defeated coup of July 15, 2016.
Buhari and Kahraman also witnessed the Turkish Parliament's general assembly and greeted lawmakers.
"Welcome to our parliament which is the cradle of our democracy," Deputy Speaker Ahmet Aydin said.
