How Armed Men Abducted a Kidney Patient and Tortured Him for Days

A man who depends on regular dialysis has described being abducted from his home by men posing as police officers, an ordeal that left him without medical treatment for days and placed his life at risk.

The incident took place on Christmas Eve, when armed men entered his house and ordered his family to lie on the floor. In front of his partner and two young children, the man was handcuffed, taken outside while partially dressed, and forced into a white Land Cruiser. His family was given no explanation for his removal and had no information about his whereabouts for several days.

In an account shared by activist Hussein Khalid, the man said the intruders arrived without warning and immediately restrained him. He said he was driven to an unknown location and held without contact with the outside world.

The man, identified as Harrison, requires dialysis twice a week. As a result of his detention, he missed multiple treatment sessions and essential medication. Khalid, the chief executive of Vocal Africa, warned at the time that the lack of dialysis posed a serious threat to his life.

Harrison said he was held for nine days at an undisclosed location before being released on 2 January 2026. He reported that he was tortured during his detention and described the experience as deeply traumatic.

Human rights advocates have criticised the incident, stating that the manner of the arrest and detention violated legal procedures. Khalid said that any allegations against an individual should be handled through established legal channels, rather than through secret detentions.

The case has raised concerns about the safety of individuals with serious medical conditions and the impact of unlawful detentions on their health. It has also highlighted the vulnerability of families left without information when armed groups conduct raids while claiming official authority.

Harrison is now recovering with his family, while activists continue to call for accountability and safeguards to prevent similar incidents in the future.