Why is God allowing Boko Haram to kill Christians in North East Nigeria

 Recently, a young person asked me this question: If God is so powerful, loving, and good, why does He allow groups like Boko Haram to destroy innocent people? Why does He allow those who serve Him to be killed by Islamic fundamentalists? Why does He allow evil to happen to good people?

This youth was, in effect, questioning the existence of God. Beneath the question was a deeper struggle: Are the so-called scientists right in claiming that God is merely a creation of ignorant cultures—a coping mechanism for life’s unanswered problems?

This person was not opposed to God. He believed in God but longed for a faith that brings the head and the heart together. He wanted to reconcile his intellect with his faith but found it difficult because he could not answer certain questions. Unfortunately, an anti-intellectual posture among some well-meaning Christian leaders has contributed to producing believers with compartmentalized lives—people who struggle to integrate their faith into everyday reality.

If this question became a faith-extinguisher for this youth, it likely reflects the hidden doubts of many others. For the sake of helping others, I will present a seven-point response:

1. The Reality of Evil Points to the Existence of God

If there is no God, there can be no objective standard of good and evil. Evil can only be recognized in contrast to what is good. Apart from God—and the moral order that flows from Him—there is no ultimate standard. The very fact that we recognize certain acts as evil is itself evidence that God, who is perfectly good, exists.

2. Evil Originates from Human Rebellion

God created the world good, but human rebellion in the Garden of Eden introduced sin and its consequences. Evil is rooted in this rebellion. At times, God mercifully shields us from evil; at other times, He allows the consequences of human choices to unfold. In situations like the atrocities of Boko Haram, we do not know all the reasons why some are spared while others are not. However, our limited understanding does not imply divine ignorance. We can trust the God who gave His Son for our redemption to act justly.

3. God Delivers, Yet Some Embrace Suffering in Faith

Scripture shows that God delivers His people in response to faith. At the same time, some believers have embraced martyrdom as an expression of their devotion. If one is not called to such a path, the appropriate response to affliction is prayer and expectation of deliverance. As Scripture says, “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray” (James 5:13).

4. God Has Promised Ultimate Justice

God has promised justice, and ultimately, everyone will receive it. Those who suffered unjustly will experience God’s justice in eternity, and those who committed evil will also face justice. While it is difficult to grasp how eternity compensates for present loss, God assures us that His justice will fully satisfy. As David declared, “I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Your likeness” (Psalm 17:15).

5. Death Is Not Loss for the Believer

Those who die in Christ have not lost; they have been transferred from a lesser to a greater reality. Consider a loving father who moves his child from a struggling village school in Zamfara to a better life and education in Abuja. It may feel like a loss to those left behind, but it is not a loss for the child. In the same way, Paul writes, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).

6. Grace Is Given in the Moment of Suffering

The youth also asked why God would allow such painful deaths. The truth is, such experiences may not be as unbearable as we imagine. We often project ourselves into those situations without the grace that would be available in that moment. Scripture teaches that grace is given when it is needed (Hebrews 4:16). Many who have faced life-threatening situations testify that they received unusual strength, clarity, and courage in those moments. God’s promise remains: “My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

7. Rethinking “Good People”

The question is often framed as, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” However, Scripture teaches that all humanity is affected by sin. We are not morally perfect; we are recipients of God’s mercy. A more accurate question may be: “Why do good things happen to undeserving people?” The answer is simple: because God is merciful. Every good we experience is an expression of His grace.

Conclusion

This issue is not merely intellectual—it is deeply emotional and spiritual. The gospel does not deny the reality of suffering; it addresses it through the cross. God did not remain distant from human pain—He entered it. In Christ, we see both the justice of God against sin and the love of God for sinners.

A faith that engages both the mind and the heart must be willing to wrestle honestly with such questions while remaining anchored in the character of God.

THINK RIGHT AND LIVE RIGHT

Why think right – Because when you sow a thought, you reap an action, you sow an action, you reap a habit, you sow a habit, you reap a destiny. As a human being you operate through thoughts. Your actions, habits, character and destiny begin with your thoughts. If your thoughts are wrong, your actions will be wrong and you will end up with a wrong destiny.
The bible says in Matthew 15:19-20 "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man". You cannot stop thinking but you can choose what to think about. If you are born again in Christ, you have become a new creation and you have the mind of Christ. What this means is that you are no longer under the power of devils to think every thought they suggest to you, you now have the power to choose what to think. This is why the bible says, "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things". (Php 4:8 NIV). Right thoughts are thoughts that accord with the word of God and evaluate all of life from heaven's perspective.

Why live right - Right living result from right thinking. The bible teaches that (Proverbs 23:7)  "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he..."  Right living is what progressively positions us to experience the life God planned for us. The bible says in Psalms 37:37,  "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace". The perfect man in this scripture does not mean a flawless person but one that fears the Lord and seeks to please Him. We may not be perfect in our actions because we are still growing in knowledge, but we can be perfect in our love for Jesus. A person with a whole hearted commitment to Jesus will think with the mind of Christ and walk as He walked. This is the right living that will result in peace.
This must not be understood to mean that right living is a merit that somehow earns us blessings. All that we receive from the Lord, we receive by grace. It comes with the salvation we received on account of Jesus death and resurrection to atone for our sins. However, right living pleases God and positions us to receive what has already been provided in Christ. Wrong living positions us away from God's favor and we miss out on God's blessings. God gave Joshua the road map to good success when He commanded him in Joshua 1:8,  "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success".  This is how it flows from the Word: Read it » Think it » Do it » Prosper » With good success.

 

 

In worldview Wars, Ifiok J. Ukobo exposes the hidden, but very aggressive, war of worldviews being waged against righteousness in our personal lives and community. This battle has now arrived in every home, community, and country. We are under attack, and the battle front spans our schools , media, national policies, and pulpits. Families are breaking down, children are becoming rebellious; communities no longer have shared values, and a cultural flux is emerging. In Worldview Wars, the author presents practical ways to win the battle in your life, family, and community. This book will renew your mind and help you to stay free and bring freedom to others that have been taken captive. You will also discover practical strategies that will help you to teach your children a biblical worldview and arm them against deception.

 

GET A COPY HERE

 



 

Book recommendation - WORLDVIEW WARS: Let No One Take You Captive
Forward by Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN

The right destiny – There are two destinies confronting everyone. The first one is prepared by God for His children. In the book of Jeremiah 29:11 it is referred to as "thought that I think towards you," "thoughts of peace" and "expected end".  The other is prepared by the devil for his children in hell. Moses presented the two destinies to the children of Israel. In Deuteronomy 30: 15, 19 Moses said:  "See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; .... I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live". Heaven is presented as life, good and blessing, desirable things that starts in this life and continue in eternity. Hell is presented as death, evil and cursing, undesirable things that starts in this life and continue in eternity.
The journey to either of the two destinies starts with our thoughts. When God wiped out the world of Noah,  He pointed to their thoughts as the reason. Genesis 6:5 says  "And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually".  The bible teaches that unrighteousness that will drown people in perdition starts from the thoughts. Isaiah 55:7 says  "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts..."

Changing destinies from death to life involves changing our thoughts.
The Holy Spirit want to use the word of God to paint new pictures of reality in your heart, He wants to paint the thoughts of God concerning you. He says  in Jeremiah 29:11  "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end".  He gave you the mind of Christ and His word so you would think His thoughts and enjoy His plans for your life. When people are complacent in their thought life, they invite destruction. In Isaiah 59:7 the bible says  "Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths".

Conclusion
Think about this in Proverbs 12:5  the bible says "The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit. Proverbs 15:26 says "The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words".

WHY YOU CAN'T OVERCOME EVIL WITH EVIL

 

Do you ever wonder why situations often go from bad to worse when we return evil for evil? Before the exchange takes place, we usually assume that responding in kind will protect us. We imagine that it will stop the other person from taking advantage of us or serve as a deterrent against further wrongdoing. Unfortunately, the result is rarely what we expect. Instead of bringing peace, the situation often escalates. Scripture warns against this pattern: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12:21 NIV).

We are overcome by evil when we yield to the temptation to respond to wrongdoing with more wrongdoing. A sin committed against us opens the door for death—that is, the destructive influence of Satan—to affect the relationship between the offender and the offended (Rom. 5:12). Sin activates destructive forces in human relationships. When the offended person retaliates with evil, another door to that same destructive power is opened. The result is a worsening cycle in which hostility grows and relationships deteriorate. For this reason, evil can never truly overcome evil; responding with evil only deepens its influence in the situation. God calls His children to break this cycle by overcoming evil with good.

When we choose to obey God and return good for evil, we introduce a different power into the situation—the power of life. Every act of goodness performed in obedience to Christ releases life that overcomes the destructive power of sin. This is why the Scripture teaches, “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Prov. 15:1 KJV). A gentle response releases life and diffuses the destructive energy carried by anger and conflict.

The Bible also promises that righteousness ultimately prevails: “Evildoers will bow down in the presence of the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous” (Prov. 14:19 NIV). Evil bows before good because the authority of Christ is activated through righteousness. When we confront evil with good, we create space for Christ to exercise His authority over the situation. As the book of Hebrews declares concerning Jesus, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom” (Heb. 1:8 NIV). When we obey Christ and return good for evil, His power works in that situation, overcoming the influence of darkness—much like Moses’ rod swallowed up the rods of the magicians.

Choosing to see situations from God’s perspective and obey Him rather than reacting according to our natural impulses always leads to life and peace. Scripture reminds us: “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (Rom. 8:6 KJV).

Let us therefore go out and overcome evil with good—in our families, neighborhoods, workplaces, churches, cities, and nation—through the power of the Holy Spirit. Let us become the change we desire to see in the world. May you be renewed and empowered in Jesus’ name.

Written by Ifiok Ukobo