Pô, Burkina Faso – A notorious group of cattle thieves and receivers operating in Pô, a commune in the province of Nahouri, was apprehended by the local security initiative Koglowéogo. The culprits, specialized in the theft and concealment of cattle, were presented to the public at the Koglewéogo headquarters on January 25, 2024.
According to Burkina Information Agency, president of the self-defense group, the operation was initiated following an anonymous tip about suspicious activities in the commune of Pô. “We dispatched members who, through their proactive approach, captured the ringleader who readily confessed to the crimes,” stated Tiétiembou. Further investigations led to the uncovering of the entire network.
El hadj Tietiembou described the group’s unique modus operandi, which involved stealing cattle, notably oxen, and altering their appearance. The thieves used dye and brushes to change the animals’ coat colors, such as turning white or red oxen into black ones. This technique was used to evade detection and facilitate smuggling of the animals across the Ghanaian border. The search operation resulted in the discovery of two white bulls, dyed black, ready for transport to Ghana. The thieves confessed to operating for a year, having already smuggled around ten bulls.
This case marks a first for El hadj Tiétiembou, who had served as president of the Nahouri breeders for twenty years before leading the Koglowéogo. “I have never encountered such theft techniques in my experience,” he remarked. He urged the local population to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to either the defense and security forces or the Koglowéogo.
Idrissa Bounkoungou, one of the victims, expressed gratitude towards the Koglowéogo of Pô for recovering his bull lost three months ago. The apprehended thieves, following the return of the two recovered animals to their rightful owners, will be handed over to security authorities for further legal proceedings.