Minister Onyeama dismisses reports on the deportation of 1,000 Turks

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama has dismissed as false, reports that 1,000 Turks will be deported from Nigeria on the request of the Turkish government.

Onyeama dismissed the rumours while addressing newsmen over the weekend, in Istanbul, Turkey.

The minister said the Nigerian government was debating the extradition of Turkish nationals suspected to be members of the Gulen movement, Daily Post reported.

The Turkish government had said the Gulen group was responsible for the 2016 foiled coup in their country, an accusation the movement denied.

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Minister Onyeama was quoted as saying: “There was the request for the extradition of some of the Turks in Nigeria who have been given asylum and recognized by the United Nations as political refugees and the Turkish government requested that we extradite some of them.

“There was also the request that the schools and hospitals established by Gülen Movement should be closed in Nigeria. They now labelled Fethtulah as a terrorist organization”.

Onyeama’s explanation was disclosed in a statement released by his media aide, Sarah Sanda.

The minister maintained that there was no agreement between the two governments to deport some Turks.

Onyeama assured all foreign nationals, including Turks resident in the country legally, of full protection under Nigerian and International Laws.

“Every individual of whatever nationality, legally residing in Nigeria is guaranteed full protection under Nigerian and International Laws,” he said.