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B-I-Z-A-R-R-E! Man Missing For 26 Years Found Alive In Neighbour’s House

Published

2 months ago

May 17, 2024

Editor

An Algerian man, Omar Bin Omran, who went missing at the age of 17, 26 years ago following an alleged kidnapping, has been found alive in his neighbour’s house.

According to Daily Mail on Wednesday, Omar was discovered in a hole in the ground within a sheep pen, concealed under stacks of hay.

Omar, one of nine children, disappeared in the city of Djelfa, Algeria, 26 years ago. His family believed he had been killed during the civil war that ravaged the nation in the 1990s and early 2000s.

According to reports, Omar was found less than 200 meters from his family’s home. A 61-year-old neighbour is now in police custody after Omar, now 45, was rescued on May 12.

Footage was shared on social media and broadcast on Algerian television networks of the moment that he was found in what appeared to be a hole in the ground, described by authorities as a sheep pen, within the home of his alleged captor.

The blurry video shows torchlights shining into a pit surrounded by hay as Omar furtively looks up, seemingly in shock at the search party surrounding him, with stray pieces of straw in his hair.

Other images have since been circulated of the bearded man emerging from the hole, thought to be a sheep pen, and of him as a teenager, sitting with a dog and with young children before he disappeared.

According to the Algerian newspaper El Khabar, his dog recognized his scent and stayed near where Omar was held. It was alleged that the captor poisoned the dog to ward the family off.

Omar went missing in 1998 while heading to a vocational school. He was found after the captor’s brother aired grievances on social media, reportedly over an inheritance dispute.

This led Omar’s family to search the neighbour’s house, where they found him. The captor attempted to flee but was restrained and arrested.

Tragically, Omar’s mother died in 2013 without knowing the fate of her son. Reports suggest Omar was informed of his mother’s death while in captivity.

A relative said on Facebook: ‘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.’

Public prosecutors in Djelfa, a mountain city of around 500,000 people around 140 miles south of coastal capital Algiers, say Omar will receive psychological care after being rescued as they vowed to get him justice.

‘The Djelfa Attorney General’s Office informs the public that on May 12 at 8 pm local time, it found victim Omar B, aged 45, in the case of his neighbour, B.A., aged 61,’ they said in a statement.

A court official in Djelfa was quoted as saying: “Two days ago, on 12 May 2024, the Public Prosecutor’s Office received, through the regional department of the National Gendarmerie in El Jadid, a complaint against an anonymous person claiming that the complainant’s brother, Omar bin Omran, who has been missing for about 30 years, is in the house of one of his neighbours, inside a sheepfold.”

Following this report, the General Prosecutor of the Court of Idrisiya in the province of Djelfa ordered the National Gendarmerie to open an in-depth investigation and officers went to the house in question.

He added: “The Public Prosecutor’s Office ordered that the victim receive medical and psychological treatment, and the suspect will be presented to the Public Prosecutor’s Office immediately after the completion of the investigation.”

Officials have promised the ‘perpetrator of this heinous crime’ will be tried with ‘severity.’

The suspect, a civil servant, lived alone but was often seen buying enough food for two people. A neighbour recounted to Algerian TV station Bilad that Omar’s mother died without knowing her son was so close by.

Questions have arisen about why Omar did not call for help during his captivity. Some reports claim Omar said he was unable to call out because of a spell cast by his captor, while others suggest his psychological state may have prevented him from seeking help.

The case may be among the world’s longest-running kidnapping cases. Eleven-year-old Jaycee Dugard was kidnapped in Meyers, California in 1991 and remained missing for over 18 years after she was captured by Phillip and Nancy Garrido.

Dugard was kept in depraved conditions and was subjected to extreme sexual abuse, having two children by Phillip Garrido, and later said she adapted to sympathising with her captors to survive.

Headline

JUST IN: Nigeria Records 63 Deaths, 2,102 Cholera Cases

Published

2 hours ago

July 2, 2024

Editor

The Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Jide Idris has said a total of 2,102 suspected cholera cases and 63 deaths have been recorded across 33 states and 122 local government areas since the beginning of the year as of June 30, 2024.

Idris said this on Tuesday at a press briefing in Abuja.

He noted that the case fatality rate is at 3.0 per cent.

He said seven of the top 10 states (Lagos, Bayelsa, Abia, Zamfara, Bauchi, Katsina, Cross River, Ebonyi, Rivers and Delta) that contribute about 90 per cent of the cases are Southern States.

Cholera, a highly contagious food and waterborne disease, has in the recent past reared its devastating head in several states across our country. It is caused by the ingestion of the organism Vibrio cholerae in contaminated water and food.

“As of 30th June 2024, a total of 2,102 suspected cases and 63 deaths have been recorded across 33 States and 122 LGAs with a case fatality rate of 3.0% since the beginning of the year. Of the top 10 States (Lagos, Bayelsa, Abia, Zamfara, Bauchi, Katsina, Cross River, Ebonyi, Rivers and Delta) that contribute about 90 per cent of the cases, seven of them are Southern States.

“The National Cholera Multisectoral Emergency Operation Centre activated parades an array of subject matter experts and provides strategic coordination, meets daily and provides periodic situation reports for stakeholders.

“This also ensures effective mobilisation, harmonisation and distribution of resources to support the affected states. This is done through the relevant thematic areas of response that cover coordination, surveillance, case management, infection prevention and control, risk communication and community engagement, Water Sanitation and Hygiene, Vaccination, Logistics, Research with a costed Incidence Action Plan for the response developed and being implemented.”

He added, “These will help facilitate rapid communication, data analysis, and decision-making. It will also ensure that we deploy resources efficiently, strengthen surveillance and diagnostic capacity, enhance treatment of affected persons, and intensify public awareness and community engagement activities.”

Headline

Bill To Create Etiti State In South East Passes First Reading

Published

3 hours ago

July 2, 2024

Editor

A bill to alter the 1999 Constitution as amended to create Etiti state ( equity) in the South East passed through its first reading in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

Sponsored by Hon. Amobi Godwin Ogah representing Isikwuato/ Umunneochi federal Constituency and four others representing the affected communities.

They include Hon. Princess Miriam Odinaka Onuoha representing Okigwe and Onuimo federal constituency, Hon. Kama Nkemkama representing ivo/Ohazara federal constituency, Hon. Princess Chinwe Nnabuife representing Orumba South and North Federal Constituency and Hon. Anayo Onwuegbu representing Oji river/ Agwai/ aniri federal constituency.

The proposed state is to be created out of the present Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states.

When created, the new state will have 11 local government areas drawn from the five states with headquarters at Lokpanta.

The bill seeks to alter three sections of the 1999 constitution, to delete the word 36 and replace it with the word 37 to accommodate the new state and to insert the word Etiti, immediately after Enugu in the list of states contained in the Constitution.

It also seeks to alter the listing of local government according to states and transfer the 11 local government areas from their current states to the new state.

The local governments to be affected are Isuikwuato and Umu-Nneochi (Abia), Orumba North and Orumba South (Anambra), Ivo and Ohaozara (Ebonyi), Aninri, Agwu and Oji River (Enugu) as well as Okigwe and Onuimo (Imo).

Headline

Facebook Unveils Monetisation Features For Nigerian, Ghanaian Creators

Published

5 hours ago

July 2, 2024

Editor

Meta has announced that content creators in Nigeria and Ghana with at least 5,000 followers will start earning money on Facebook from July 1, 2024.

The company introduced two monetisation features: In-Stream Ads on Facebook and Facebook Ads on Reels on Monday.

According to a statement from Meta, these features will allow creators to earn revenue by producing original videos and building their communities.

Eligible creators in both countries can monetise their video and reel content, with support available in over 30 languages globally.

The statement read: “To use either product, creators must pass and remain compliant with Facebook’s partnership monetisation policies and content monetization policies and they must be at least 18 years old.

“Additionally, for in-stream ads creators must meet certain requirements such as having a minimum of 5,000 followers.”

Commenting on the rollout, Global Partnerships Lead, Africa, Middle East and Turkey, at Meta, Moon Baz, said: “Everyday, we’re inspired by the incredible African creators who use Facebook to tell their stories, connect with others and bring people together.”

“This expansion will empower eligible creators in the vibrant creative industry across Nigeria and Ghana to earn money, whilst setting the bar high for creativity across the world and making Meta’s family of apps the one-stop-shop for all creators.

“In-stream Ads can play before, during or after on-demand videos, whether it’s pre-recorded content or when publishing a recording of a previous live stream.

“Types of In-stream Ads include Pre-roll Ads (which play before a video starts,), Mid-roll Ads (which play during videos), Image Ads (static image ads that display beneath the content) and Post-roll Ads (ads which appear at the end of videos).

“Ads on Facebook Reels integrate seamlessly into original Reels, enabling creators to get paid based on the performance of their original reels while entertaining fans”, Baz added.