An Algerian man named Omar bin Omran, who went missing during the country’s civil war in 1998, has been found alive 26 years later in a cellar near his home in Djelfa, northern Algeria.
The Ministry of Justice reported that bin Omran, now 45, was discovered in a sheepfold hidden by haystacks just 200 metres from his family’s residence.
Authorities have detained his alleged captor, a 61-year-old doorman identified as BA, who tried to flee but was apprehended.
The discovery came after the suspect’s brother shared revealing information on social media during an inheritance dispute.
Bin Omran disappeared at the age of 19, and his family had long presumed he was either kidnapped or killed.
His mother passed away in 2013, still believing her son was dead.
Bin Omran reportedly told his rescuers that he could sometimes see his family but felt unable to call out due to a “spell” cast by his captor.
The Ministry of Justice stated that an investigation into the crime is ongoing, and bin Omran is currently receiving medical and psychological care.
Watch the video below:
Algerian Man Found Alive in Neighbor’s Cellar After 27 Years.
In 1997, 17-year-old Omar Bin Omran, one of nine children, went missing while on his way to a vocational school in the city of Djelfa. A search was initiated involving the family’s dog, which was allegedly poisoned by… pic.twitter.com/mHPBh5Go0A
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