An Algerian man, who went missing when he was 19, was found alive recently, shocking his family and community to their core.
Omar bin Omran, who went missing in 1998, is now 45 years old. He was discovered in a neighbor’s cellar, just 650 feet away from his family’s home, as per Al Jazeera.
The discovery ended a 26-year-long mystery that began during the tumultuous period of the Algerian civil war. Given the extended duration of his disappearance, some relatives had presumed him d_ead. However, his mother, who passed away in 2013, reportedly never lost hope that her son would be found alive.
According to BBC, the suspected captor, a 61-year-old man, was arrested at the scene after attempting to flee. Algeria’s Ministry of Justice condemned the act as “heinous” and confirmed that an investigation is ongoing to uncover the full extent of the circumstances surrounding bin Omran’s captivity.
As per the BBC, currently, Omar bin Omran is receiving comprehensive medical treatment for both physical and psychological traumas. Remarkably, bin Omran revealed that over the past 26 years, he occasionally saw some of his family members but was unable to reach out for help. He claimed that his captor had cast a “spell” on him, rendering him incapable of seeking assistance.
The bizarre incident was brought to light recently due to an alleged inheritance dispute between the suspect and his brother. The suspect’s brother posted incriminating information on social media, which prompted the National Gendarmerie — responsible for police services in Algeria’s rural areas — to investigate further. This led to a search of the suspect’s house, resulting in the discovery of bin Omran.
The case has sent shockwaves through the community and the nation, raising questions about how such a prolonged and close-proximity captivity could go unnoticed.
@metrouk A man who went missing 27 years ago, has been found in a cellar just 200m away from his family. Omar’s dog even reportedly pined for him, recognising by his scent that he was near. A 61-year-old man’s been taken into custody. #fy #fyp #algeria #missingperson #missingpersoncases #found #lifestory #crimecases #crime #worldnews #missing ♬ original sound – MetroUK
