According to the justice ministry of Algeria, a man who had been missing for 26 years was discovered this week in the residence of a neighbor, a minimal minute’s walk away.
In 1998, Omar B., who was unidentified, disappeared while participating in the Algerian Civil War at the age of 19. His family suspected that he had been assassinated or abducted.
He was discovered amidst haystacks in the city of Djelfa, approximately 200 yards away, at the age of 45. This discovery occurred after the captor’s sibling expressed his dissatisfaction on social media, allegedly due to an inheritance dispute.
According to Algerian media, family members initiated a search of the suspect’s residence; however, as they approached a haystack, the suspect became agitated. Ultimately, they discovered Omar B. “sitting peacefully” beneath it.
While attempting to flee, the alleged perpetrator, a 61-year-old doorman at the municipality in the neighboring town of El Guedid, was apprehended, according to the ministry.
According to Algerian media, the victim claimed that he was unable to plead for help because of a “spell” that his captor had placed on him.
The adolescent was reported missing by Algerian media in the same year, and his purported abductor was also charged with poisoning his dog. These publications featured a photograph of the dog posing with the victim.
The victim was undergoing psychological and medical treatment in the aftermath of the “heinous” crime, and the ministry stated that an investigation was still ongoing.
According to Algerian media, the victim was reportedly subjected to a medical examination before being transferred to a specialized psychological health facility.
