God has never given unlimited free will. That much is absolutely clear in the Bible. God absolutely destroyed Adam and Eve’s free will choice by kicking them out of the Garden of Eden and making sure they would never gain entry again, by setting up an angel to block entry.
God hardens whom he will, he blocks actions of others, he opens doors for others to go through, where no one else can, he moves others to evil and calamity - and then holds them fully accountable, regardless.
I’m just describing what the Bible tells us. If it was up to me, I probably wouldn’t do the things that God has done in terms of free will ... but that’s why he is God and I am not.
So are the Christians being slaughtered in Africa and the middle east God’ will? Are they just not as faithful as you? A so are being punished for their lack of faith? Or are they being killed by evil men committing acts of evil free will?