First of all, I was unaware of this case before reading your question. This is one of many tragic cases in this “world of SIN.” When our first parents (Adam & Eve) ate of the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden (see Genesis 2:15-17 and 3:1-6), they plunged the whole world into sin, depravity, and heartache. If you read Romans 3:9-18 you will see a very graphic description of this fallen race of humanity. God does not mince words in describing man (men and women) and his wicked nature and behavior. Men want nothing to do with the God they can’t understand, and every part of man has been affected by sin, causing them to commit acts of atrocities against their fellow-man. The case you cite is indeed sad and it illustrates verses 16-18, “Destruction and misery are in their ways; and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Because of man’s wicked heart of sin (see Jeremiah 17:9 and Matthew 15:19) they prey on one another in order to gratify their evil lusts and unless they are restrained, they will continue to wreak havoc and destruction in the world.

I just said, “unless they are restrained,” and this leads me to your question. God has established “government” to punish evil-doers. We read of this in Romans 13:1-3, “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore, whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.” The believer in Christ learns, from this passage, that it is “human government,” as ordained by God, that must seek to “restrain evil” by “executing wrath on him who practices evil.” This means that it is the government of Nigeria that has the responsibility to deal with the evil men who abducted the female students and then impregnated them. The believer is NOT to “entangle himself with the affairs of this life” (see 2^nd Timothy 2:1-4), which means we are not to be occupied with the things in this life that we have no control over. The believer is actually a “pilgrim and stranger in this world” (see 1^st Peter 2:11 and Hebrews 11:13-16) and thus we are not to be seeking to govern this world.

Does this mean we are to do nothing? No, for we should surely PRAY FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN CONTROL! In 1^st Timothy 2:1-2 we read, “Therefor I exhort first of all that supplications, PRAYERS, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, FOR KINGS AND ALL WHO ARE IN AUTHORITY, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.” In the case before us we can pray for the leaders in authority in Nigeria that they may be able to capture the perpetrators of these crimes and execute punishment upon them. Our passage also speaks of praying for ALL MEN so we can pray for the female victims of this crime, that they may be given wisdom to make the right decision regarding their pregnancies. As believers in Christ, we believe in the sanctity of life and that aborting an unborn child is wrong (see Psalm 139:13-17), but we cannot force our convictions upon others. Yet we can pray for their hearts to be moved to allow these babies to be born and then to do the right thing afterwards, whether they would “keep the child” or “turn them over to an adoption agency.” If a believer is given the opportunity to meet and talk to one or more of the victims, they could share the passage in Psalm 139 with them to show them that God honors every life that He has formed, even if that life was brought about through evil men.

In closing, it may be that the evil men who did these acts of depravity may never be found and judged by the Nigerian government. What then? It is vital to see that God knows all things and He will, in time, execute judgment on all unbelievers for the sins they have committed (see Acts 17:31; Romans 2:1-9 and Revelation 20:11-13). Yet as believers in Christ we should pray now that they will come to “repent of their sins” and “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved” (see Acts 20:21 and 16:31). Remember, we too were in bondage to sin before our conversion to Christ and it should be our desire to see others saved and delivered from the penalty and power of sin. We saw in 1^st Timothy 2:1 that we are to pray “for all men” and this includes praying for their salvation as we see in verses 3-5, “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who DESIRES ALL MEN TO BE SAVED and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all.”  (DO)  (492.3)