A Catholic priest, who turned 80 years old last week, and served in a Government Secondary School in Minna, Niger State for 50 years and an Islamic cleric are pictured tearfully embracing each other, as the priest prepares to return to Ireland. Halima Bawa Bwari a relative to to a federal state Minister(Abubakar Bawa Bwari) in Abuja posted the photos on March 7th and wrote:

“The kind of embrace that is much needed especially in these days of insistent hate & dislike. Father O’Connell, a Catholic Priest, in a tearful farewell embrace with Shaykh Ahmad Lemu, an Islamic Cleric, in Minna. Father O’Connell has served in a Government Secondary School, Minna as a Principal for 50 years. He turned 80 earlier last week or so. He returns to Ireland on retirement. These 2 men have between themselves, educated, positively influenced and molded many Nigerlites, including my father & mother, among other close family & friends. May our lives be that of service & usefulness to others. Amin”