Omar Bin Omran, an Algerian man who went missing in Djelfa, Algeria in 1998, has been found alive in his neighbor’s cellar after 26 years.
His family had believed that he was killed during the Algerian Civil War, a decade-long conflict between the government and Islamist groups. Bin Omran, now 45 years old, was discovered just 200 meters away from his childhood home, hidden in a basement beneath a hay-covered floor.
The alleged captor, a 61-year-old doorman, was apprehended by the police as he tried to escape. He is accused of holding Bin Omran captive and killing his dog, which had remained near the hiding place.
The public prosecutor’s office received a complaint from an unidentified source, believed to be the suspect’s brother, about a man being concealed in the house. Bin Omran was found on May 12th at 8 pm local time.
When rescued, he revealed that he had been observing his family from a distance but was unable to call for help due to a perceived “spell” cast by his captor. Sadly, Bin Omran’s mother, who always believed her son was alive, passed away in 2013 without knowing the truth.
The investigation into this shocking case is ongoing, and Bin Omran is receiving medical and psychological care. Authorities have promised that the perpetrator will face severe consequences for this heinous crime.
As families of Algerian war victims continue to seek justice for their missing and deceased loved ones, it is estimated that around 20,000 individuals were abducted during the conflict, which claimed the lives of approximately 200,000 people.
