ALBAWABA Algeria's justice ministry announced on Tuesday that a man who had been missing for 26 years was discovered in his neighbor's house, just a short walk away.
Identified only as Omar B., he disappeared at the age of 19 during the Algerian Civil War in 1998, leaving his family to believe he had been abducted or killed. Now 45 years old, he was found among haystacks approximately 200 meters away in the city of Djelfa.
The ministry stated that the investigation is ongoing and described the crime as "heinous". The victim is receiving medical and psychological care.
The suspected perpetrator, a 61-year-old doorman at the municipality in the nearby town of El Guedid, was apprehended after attempting to flee, according to the ministry.
Reports from Algerian media indicate that the victim claimed he was unable to seek help due to a spell cast by his captor.
