Unidentified gunmen have abducted three UN staff members in the city of Geneina, capital of Sudan’s West Darfur State, a local government official said Monday.

"Two of the abductees work for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees [UNHCR] and are Nepalese nationals, while the third is Sudanese," Abdullah Mustafa, a spokesman for West Darfur State’s local government, told Anadolu Agency.

"The abduction took place Sunday evening," he said, adding that Sudanese security agencies were currently searching for the kidnappers.

"Those responsible will be arrested within hours," Mustafa asserted, without speculating on the perpetrators’ motives.

UNHCR officials are reportedly aware of the incident and are mulling steps aimed at securing the trio’s release.