A suspected hoodlum has been killed in a gun battle with police officers in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi police spokesperson, Loveth Odah, confirmed on Monday.

Ms Odah explained that hoodlums were intimidating and forcing people to comply with the “sit-at-home” directive of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and had to be stopped.

She said members of the proscribed IPOB were intercepting motorcycles, molesting, threatening and shooting sporadically into the air to scare people from engaging in their normal activities.

Ms Odah added that the police had secured the area and embarked on a “show of force” to maintain law and order in the state.

“One of the hoodlums lost his life when they opened fire on our men.

“People were going about their legitimate businesses and activities in the area but the hoodlums were distracting and forcing them to obey the IPOB’s “sit-at-home” directive.

“They blocked some axis in the metropolis, collecting motorcycles and burning them,” Ms Odah said.

IPOB had declared May 31 as Remembrance Day to honour those who died in the 30-month Nigerian civil war which ended on January 15, 1970.

Markets, banks and fuel stations in the state did not open for business, while the roads were devoid of vehicular movement.