The-yet-to-abate fuel scarcity in the country assumed a dangerous dimension on Saturday in Ilorin, the Kwara state as three gunmen opened fire on motorists queuing for petrol.

The incident happened at one 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 and other officials of the station were said to have scampered for safety.

The incident according to eyewitnesses occurred in the early hours of the day. It was gathered that the three men were part of some youths who had forced themselves on the station, located along Offa Garage Road, to manage the gates 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 that one of the gunmen has been arrested adding that a locally made pistol and some live cartridges were recovered from the suspect.

Management of the filling station could not be reached, as the Manager only promised to call back after several calls to him. He also did not respond to text messages from reporters.