Another Vehicle Abandoned With Stolen Cattle in West Nile

Barely 48 hours after a Toyota Wish was found abandoned with three herds of cattle on the outskirts of Arua City, residents and police in Bileafe Sub County, Terego District, have been left stunned by a similar incident. On Sunday, a silver Toyota Harrier, registration number UAW 012A, was discovered abandoned on the premises of Liria Primary School in Abindi Village. The vehicle contained two dead bulls and one live cow.

According to Bileafe Police, the vehicle was reportedly abandoned at around 3:00 AM by unidentified individuals suspected to be cattle thieves. Eyewitnesses say the suspects were heading towards Arua City but fled on foot after their vehicle stopped on the school compound and attracted the attention of the school guard. 

Collins Asea, the West Nile Region Police Spokesperson, confirmed the incident. He said the school guard became suspicious upon noticing unusual activity and approached the vehicle. Inside, he found cattle crammed in the boot and on the rear seats. 

“The guard immediately alerted some teachers residing near the school and nearby residents. Upon returning to the vehicle, they discovered three cattle inside—two bulls already dead and one cow still alive,” SP Asea said. The animals were later moved to Omugo Police Station, where the carcasses and the live cow were handed over for veterinary examination and further management. 

Police believe the two large black bulls may have either been strangled or suffocated during the attempted transportation, likely intended for illegal sale as meat in Arua City. This latest incident comes on the heels of another bizarre occurrence on Saturday evening when a Toyota Wish was found abandoned in Muni with three cattle after suffering a flat tyre. 

Investigators suspect the animals in both cases were stolen from Madi Okollo District, which shares a dense forested border with Terego. The thieves are believed to have been en route to abattoirs in Arua City. Local leaders and security officials in West Nile report an increase in livestock theft, with stolen animals often transported in unconventional vehicles like private cars and tricycles, locally known as "Rakser." 

These thefts are typically carried out by armed criminals operating in the dead of night. Police have launched investigations and a manhunt for the suspects in both incidents. Authorities are also calling on the public to be more vigilant and report any suspicious activity that could aid in arresting those behind the rising trend of livestock theft.