Man Who Went Missing Nearly 30 Years Aged 17 Found Alive In Neighbour's House

Man Who Went Missing Nearly 30 Years Aged 17 Found Alive In Neighbour's House

  • Omar Bin Omran was headed to college 27 years ago when he went missing along the way
  • His family tried searching for him in vain, after which they resigned to fate, concluding that he was dead
  • The family of the now-45-year-old was shocked to discover their son had been kidnapped by a neighbour and had been alive all along

Omar Bin Omran (or Imran) was only 17 years old when he went missing nearly 30 years ago while on his way to a vocational school.

Collage showing before and after photos of Omar Bin Omran.
Left: A photo of Imram as a teenager before he disappeared. Right: Imram on the day he was found.
Source: UGC

It is difficult to imagine that the alleged kidnapper was a next-door neighbour who kept him buried, the New York Post reports.

Family concluded Imran died

The family was overjoyed when he was found alive in a hole in the ground in a sheep pen underneath stacks of hay.

Read also

"My dad pushed me into the street": Young basketballer star helped by lawyer speaks on his life

Born in a family of nine children, Imran disappeared in the city of Djelfa in Algeria 27 years ago, making the family believe he was dead.

According to his relatives, they assumed the kin had been killed during the civil war in the 1990s and early 2000s between Algeria's government and Islamist rebel groups.

They were shocked when the missing man was found in his neighbour's house less than 200 metres away from that of his own family.

Imram was living underground

Footage shared on social media showed him in what appeared to be an underground sheep pen in his alleged captor's compound.

Imram, now aged 45, was found amid haystacks after the captor's brother shared the story on social media as a result of an inheritance dispute.

The blurry video shows Imram shocked to see the search party surrounding him, stray pieces of straw in his hair.

Read also

Aboboyaa rider stabbed to death while trying to separate fight over a woman, police make one arrest

Details indicate that the suspected kidnapper, a 61-year-old man, attempted to flee but was restrained and then arrested.

Imram to undergo counselling

Tragically, Imram's mother died in 2013 without ever knowing that her son was alive, but reports suggest the missing man was made aware of his mother's death whilst in captivity.

"Thank god my cousin was found. Bin Imran Omar is in good health after 26 years of disappearance. Awaiting details of the case and investigations," a relative wrote on Facebook.

Public prosecutors in Djelfa, a mountain city of around 500,000 people around 140 miles south of coastal capital Algiers, say

The lost and found man will undergo psychological counselling as his family seeks to pursue justice over the alleged kidnapping.

Former street boy seeks to reunite with family

In a different story, David Ouma was five years old when he and his friends jumped on a truck and ended up in Kisumu, where he became a street boy.

Read also

Tailor falls in love, marries former client after making dresses for his 3 girlfriends

He was raised by a guardian who took him through school but has now asked him to find his biological family.

The second-year student at Maseno University says he left home while still too young to remember the details.

He knows only that his mother’s name is Irene, and she is from Gem Siaya. She used to sell fish at Kendu Junction.

Proofread by Berlinda Entsie, journalist and copy editor at YEN.com.gh

New feature: Сheck out news that is picked for YOU ➡️ click on “Recommended for you” and enjoy!

Source: TUKO.co.ke

Authors:
Delali Adogla-Bessa avatar

Delali Adogla-Bessa (Current Affairs Editor) Delali Adogla-Bessa is a Current Affairs Editor with YEN.com.gh. Delali previously worked as a freelance journalist in Ghana and has over seven years of experience in media, primarily with Citi FM, Equal Times, Ubuntu Times. Delali also volunteers with the Ghana Institute of Language Literacy and Bible Translation, where he documents efforts to preserve local languages. He graduated from the University of Ghana in 2014 with a BA in Information Studies. Email: delali.adogla-bessa@yen.com.gh.

Berlinda Entsie avatar

Berlinda Entsie (Copy Editor) Berlinda Entsie is a Copy Editor at YEN.com.gh. She has worked as a proofreader and editor since 2016. Berlinda has over 5 years' experience editing and writing for leading publications in Ghana. She previously worked with Graphic Communications Group LTD, Business Insider SSA and Pulse.com.gh. She obtained a B.A in English Studies from the Methodist University College in 2016 and a Diploma in Broadcast Journalism from the GH Media School in 2019. Reach out to her via berlinda.entsie@yen.com.gh