The Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) has confirmed that an explosion at its Kaduna factory on Saturday resulted in the death of one staff member, with several others sustaining injuries.
In an official statement issued by DICON’s Public Relations Officer, Maria Sambo, the incident was attributed to expired raw materials stored in old bunkers previously used for weapons production.
The explosion occurred around 10:00 a.m. while specialists were conducting the final phase of a controlled disposal operation involving expired ammonium nitrate, primer caps, propellants, and other materials at the DICON disposal pit located in the Kakuri Industrial Area of Kaduna South Local Government.
DICON disclosed that the old storage bunkers held a significant quantity of expired explosive materials, many of which had exceeded their safe usability period.
The corporation began the disposal process in July 2025 and had successfully destroyed all expired ammonium nitrate and the majority of other hazardous materials before the incident took place.
A Board of Inquiry has been established to investigate the immediate cause of the explosion and recommend measures to prevent future occurrences.
The injured personnel are currently receiving treatment at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna, while the body of the deceased has been taken to the hospital mortuary.
DICON expressed condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of the deceased and wished a swift recovery for the injured. The corporation also reassured the public that the situation is under control and urged residents not to panic.
“The neighbouring community is assured that DICON, as a responsible and professional organisation, maintains the highest standards of operational safety. Residents can continue their daily activities without concern. The remaining materials have been safely secured,” the statement concluded.
