Further to John P's post I'd add that very few religions are willing to excommunicate whole sections of their believers even when the believers are violent murdering bastards. As John pointed out, ideology often trumps reality--or becomes reality. The Iraq war was one against the infidels, and the current 'terrorist' response in also a war against the infidels, which in this case happens to be us. Boko Haram's behavior is in its way quite like aspects of the US/UK-led Iraq invasion. It used to be 'Kill a Commie for Christ' and now we're surprised people elsewhere are pissed off. Shouldn't come as a surprise. Whether you're hacked to death with knives or blown apart by smart bombs, the end result is you're dead. Boko Haram is a product of its country and bad management within that country, and it's not coincidental that Nigeria has lotsa oil.