The-yet-to-abate fuel scarcity in the country assumed a dangerous dimension yesterday in Ilorin, capital of Kwara State as three gunmen opened fire on motorists queuing for petrol.
The incident happened at one of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Filling Stations in the metropolis.
In the ensuing melee, it was gathered that the gunmen left two young men and a lady with serious injuries.
Some others on the queue as well as officials of the station were said to have scampered for safety.
The incident, according to eyewitnesses, occurred in the early hours. It was gathered the gunmen were part of some youths who forced themselves on the station, located along Offa Garage road to manage the gates.
They were there to reduce the practice by many motorists to jump the queue in their desperate bid to get fuel.
An eyewitness said: “It was due to an argument among the boys; you know they are thugs and they have been at the gate but we don’t really know what led to the argument but we just suddenly heard the gunshots and it was later discovered that some people were seriously injured.”
The three victims, it was gathered, were rushed to a private hospital, Yusjib Industrial Medicare along the same axis.
The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the facility Dr Yusuf Abdulraheem told newsmen the three victims were in stable conditions.
He said one of them had been taken to a laboratory where the bullets in him would be extracted.
Kwara police command’s spokesperson Ajayi Okasanmi confirmed the development. He said one of the gunmen has been arrested, adding that a locally made pistol and some live cartridges were recovered from the suspect.
The manager of the station promised to call back. He however did not respond to text messages from reporters. The Nation
