Gunmen have abducted passengers along Ogobia-Adoka road in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State.

Locals said the gunmen, who struck at the weekend, intercepted the commercial vehicle and whisked away the occupants to an unknown destination.

Some of the locals alleged that the driver was killed after the kidnappers forced the vehicle to a halt, skidding off the road into a nearby bush before taking away the passengers.

Chairman of Otukpo LGA, Alfred Omakwu, confirmed the incident to our correspondent on telephone, saying that it happened two days ago.

Omakwu said he was not aware of anyone who saw the incident happen and knew exactly how many people were travelling in the vehicle.

"But we assumed that given the capacity of the vehicle, six persons could have been involved and taken away by the abductors.

"As of now, I don't have any information whether they have been released or not. There were, however, speculations that the abductors have opened talks with the victims' families," the chairman said.

Police Spokesperson for Benue command, DSP Udeme Edet, told journalists in Makurdi that she would get back to them, but had not done so as at the time of filing this report.