Omar Bin Omran, abducted in Algeria in 1998, discovered near family home after decades-long search
Djelfa, Algeria (Waryatv Web Desk) – Omar Bin Omran, an Algerian man kidnapped 26 years ago, was found in a hay-covered cellar at his neighbor’s house, just 100 meters from his family home. Omran, now 45, was only 19 at the time of his abduction. Authorities discovered him on Sunday in Djelfa state.
A video of his rescue has gone viral, showing Omran with a beard and wearing a sweater, cooped up in the narrow cellar. The cellar was located at a sheep farm owned by his long-time captor. The 61-year-old suspect, a civil servant believed to have lived alone, has been arrested.
Reopened Investigation Leads to Discovery
The Djelfa Attorney General’s Office reported that Omran’s family tipped off investigators after the suspect’s sibling suggested his involvement in a social media post. The National Gendarmerie, Algeria’s law enforcement agency, reopened the missing person case. Investigators found a hay-covered trapdoor in the suspect’s home, which led them to the cellar where Omran was kept.
The suspect attempted to escape but was arrested.
Family’s Unyielding Hope and Tragic Loss
Omran’s family never gave up hope. For almost a month after his disappearance, their dog, close to Omran, lingered at the neighbor’s home. The dog was later found dead, believed to have been poisoned. Omran’s mother passed away in 2013, never knowing her son was so close.
Omran, quoted by the Elkhabar newspaper, said he could see his family from a window in the cellar but couldn’t call out due to a “compelling force” preventing him.
Medical Treatment and Legal Proceedings
Omran was taken to a medical center for treatment. The suspect will be tried for the “heinous crime,” according to the Djelfa Attorney General’s Office.
