Gunmen have abducted six persons, including the husband of a deceased woman, who were transporting her corpse for burial along Adoka Road in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State.

The victims were reportedly kidnapped on Friday at about 8 p.m. while conveying the woman's body from Kano State to Okpoga in Okpokwu Local Government Area for burial.

According to sources who spoke with Tribune, the gunmen intercepted the victims' vehicle along the notorious road, took the six occupants into the bush and abandoned the woman's corpse on the highway.

A source said the husband, who was travelling from Kano with five friends, was among those abducted.

The source added that the kidnappers had yet to release the victims as of Monday and were demanding a ransom of N15 million.

It was gathered that officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) discovered the corpse on Saturday and conveyed it to the police station in Adoka. The police subsequently deposited it in a morgue.

Confirming the incident on Monday, the Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, said the driver of the vehicle was his friend, describing the incident as traumatic.

Ogiri also confirmed the N15 million ransom demand, adding that security agencies were making efforts to track down the kidnappers and rescue the victims.

He further said local vigilantes and youths were working alongside security operatives to secure the release of the abducted persons.

The spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, DSP Peter Aondongu, also confirmed the incident, saying the abduction occurred on Friday.

He added that police operatives were making efforts to rescue the victims.