Turkey has asked Nigeria to close all schools and colleges that are associated with US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom it accuses of sponsoring the 15 July failed coup to overthrow President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.


Turky's ambassador Hakan Cakil said a request had been made to shut 17 education institutions:

"We have formally and verbally made our demand to the Nigerian government through the Foreign Affairs Minister.

All the schools in Nigeria belong to the Gulen movement and not the Turkish government. They are using the schools to recruit followers for terrorism. This is threatening the peace in our country as they are using funds they are generating in Nigeria for terrorism."

Mr. Cemal Yigit, the spokesman of the Nigerian Turkish International Colleges, said he was unaware of the request, but it would not surprise him:

"It is so unfortunate that the smear attack is even reaching Nigeria. Nigeria is a sovereign country and [it] is as if the Turkish Ambassador has the luxury of giving Nigerian authorities instructions..."

He said that college employed 2,000 Nigerians.

Earlier this month, Turkey's announced that it would be taking over Gulen-linked schools and hospitals in Somalia after putting pressure on the government to expel its Turkish staff.

Mr Gulen has denied being involved in the coup plot, Daily Trust reports.