PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has warned that Boko Haram's ranks are being swelled by the arrival of new Islamic State fighters from Libya who are travelling south of the Sahara to join their Nigerian compatriots.

Addressing the third India-Africa Forum summit in New Delhi, President Buhari said that although Boko Haram are on the back foot, the sect is still attracting fresh recruits. He added that the terrorist group is currently in disarray due to the collapse of its leadership but it is still attracting fresh recruits.

“They are on the retreat as if you go to the front, you will find out that they no longer occupying the areas in the northeast they once did. However, a lot of trained people have returned to their bases in Nigeria and are finding their way back to strengthen Boko Haram,” President Buhari said.

Pointing out that the vacuum in Boko Haram's leadership militates against negotiating with the sect to secure the release of the Chibok girls, President Buhari added that there is nobody the Nigerian government can talk to. Abducted in April last year, about 209 pupils from Government Girls Secondary School Chibok are still being held by Boko Haram and the government has expressed a willingness to negotiate their release.

President Buhari added: “We want to get them back safe to parents but we are not sure of a credible leadership that is prepared to talk yet about the Chibok girls. We are prepared to discuss anything with the group to rescue the girls because we want them back safe and know that if they are desperate, they can even kill them.”

In March this year, Boko Haram officially became an affiliate of the Islamic State, who they had started to court in July 2014. Islamic State flags and chants have appeared in the Nigeria sect's subsequent propaganda videos.