Nigeria, Feb. 21 -- Three cattle herders were killed on Thursday night along the Dorowa-Jong road in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, in what community leaders described as a brutal ambush.

The Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria in Plateau State, Ibrahim Babayo, confirmed the killings to journalists in Jos on Friday.

Mr Babayo said the victims were returning to the Jong community after attending Qur'an Tafsir in neighbouring Dorowa when they were attacked at about 7:30 p.m.

"They were on their way home when gunmen ambushed them," he said. "After shooting them, the attackers used sharp objects to cut off the head of one of the victims. It was a brutal act that must be condemned by eve...