Gunmen have kidnapped 28 people, including women and children, while they were travelling to attend an annual Islamic festival in Plateau state, central Nigeria, local police have told the BBC.

The hostages are believed to be women and children.

The bus carrying the passengers was travelling through a small village when the attack took place on Sunday night.

Police spokesman Alabo Alfred said security forces had been "deployed" to the area where the kidnapping took place to free the victims.

The news of the arrest comes days after Nigerian authorities announced the return of the last 130 students and teachers who were kidnapped at a Catholic boarding school in Niger State last month.

A journalist in Plateau state said the families of the current hostages are being asked to pay.

Police have not said who the perpetrators may have been.

Robberies by criminal groups, known locally as "bandits", are becoming increasingly common in northern and central Nigeria.

Although ransom payments are illegal in Nigeria, it is believed that many people were freed in exchange for ransom, and that this is how the bandits make money.