Unknown gunmen have attacked and killed three operatives of the Anambra Vigilante Services (AVS) and also set five buildings ablaze.

It was gathered that the incident happened in Ihiala Local Government Area of the State at 2 am today.

A source in the area said after attacking and killing the vigilante operatives at the Local Government Secretariat, the gunmen beheaded one of them.

He said the gunmen also used Improvised Explosive Device (IED) to burn down about five buildings in the area.

An unconfirmed source also added that one of the affected buildings was housing the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The state police spokesman, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident.

Ikenga said Police operatives were alerted and when they arrived at the scene, one of the gunmen was killed by Policemen when they were confronted.