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.
The Mysterious Disappearance
He went missing in 1998 in the city of Djelfa in Algeria on his way to a vocational school. Omar Bin Omran, who is reported to be 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 45, Omar Bin Omran was rescued on May 12 at 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 purchasing enough food for two people.
Algerian Man Found Alive Underground in Neighbour’s House
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.
Man Reveals Why He Never Called Out For Help
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.
Tragically, 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.
Meanwhile, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Wahab Shittu, revealed that according to the pathologist’s court testimony, the toxicology test conducted on the late music star, Mohbad, was inconclusive in determining the cause of his death.
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Speaking to journalists after the Coroner Inquest on Wednesday, Shittu explained that due to the advanced state of decomposition of Mohbad’s body at the time of testing, the exact cause of death could not be established.
“The pathologist stated that the cause of death cannot be determined,” Shittu stated. “He cited decomposition as a factor, making it impossible to ascertain the cause definitively. Therefore, the cause of death remains uncertain and suspicious.”
Furthermore, Shittu mentioned that the pathologist suggested that the singer’s death might be linked to a reaction to certain drugs administered before his demise. However, he clarified that there was no conclusive evidence linking the drugs directly to Mohbad’s death.
Recall that during a previous hearing, Richard Somiari, the Director of Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre, had mentioned that the toxicology results would take several weeks to confirm. The forensic expert assured the public of proper handling and monitoring of the autopsy samples to ensure accuracy and security.