In a development that would make for an intriguing Netflix documentary, a man who disappeared almost 30 years ago at the age of 17 has been found alive in a neighbour’s house.
Omar Bin Omran was found in a hole in the ground in a sheep pen hidden under stacks of hay.
He went missing in 1998 in the city of Djelfa in Algeria on his way to a vocational school.
Omar Bin Omran, reportedly one of nine children, was believed to have fallen victim to the conflict between the government and Islamist rebel groups that raged for 10 years in the 1990s and early 2000s.
Little did they know that the truth was just 200 metres away.
Now 45years old, Omar Bin Omran was rescued on May 12 from his neighbour’s house.
The 61-year-old neighbour, who lived alone and worked as a civil servant, is currently in police custody.
Algerian media reported that despite living alone, the neighbour was frequently seen buying enough food for two people.
Video footage shared on social media and broadcast on Algerian television captured the moment Omar was found in what authorities described as a sheep pen within his neighbour’s home.
The video shows Omar emerging from the underground spot, visibly startled by the arrival of the search party, with strands of straw in his hair.
Additional images circulating on social media show Omar as a teenager, sitting with a dog and young children before his disappearance.
Reports suggest that the dog, recognising Omar’s scent, remained near the location where Omar was held captive. Allegedly, the captor poisoned the dog to deter the family’s search.
Omar was found after the captor’s brother aired grievances on social media regarding an inheritance dispute. This prompted Omar’s family to storm the house and locate him. Upon discovering Omar, the captor attempted to flee but was apprehended and subsequently arrested.
Sadly, Omran’s mother passed away in 2013 without ever learning the fate of her missing son. Reports suggest Omar was informed of his mother’s death while in captivity.
When asked why he didn’t call for help during his over two decades of captivity, Omran claimed his neighbour had placed him under a spell, though experts suggest his diminished mental state may be to blame.
Now free, Omran will receive psychological care as authorities work to bring his captor to justice and uncover the full details of this chilling case.
Source iHarare
