According to a local official in Anbar’s provincial capital, Ramadi, the kidnappings took place when the abductees were on their way to purchase supplies for their stores.
Members of the terror group ambushed their vehicles and summarily executed two of the victims while abducting the rest of them.
It is still unknown what has happened to the 40 civilians.
Earlier this week, reports said that ISIL terrorists abducted 50 people from an Iraqi Sunni tribe living east of the northern city of Tikrit after imposing a curfew, Press TV reported.
Anbar province, which borders war-ravaged Syria, has been a major stronghold of the ISIL elements and continues to be largely controlled by the terror group.
The ISIL terrorists also control large areas of Syria. The group first sent its militants into Iraq in June, seizing large parts of land along the border between the two countries.
They have been carrying out horrific acts of violence, including public decapitations and crucifixions, against Iraqi communities such as Shiites, Sunnis, Kurds, and Christians.
The Iraqi army has so far managed to make numerous gains in the fight against the ISIL militants, pledging to continue the battle against the extremist group.