Kaduna blast: DICON confirms one dead, several injured

The Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) has confirmed that a factory explosion at its Ordnance Disposal Pit in Kaduna claimed one life and left several others injured, dispelling earlier reports of two fatalities, including a military officer.

The blast, which rocked the Kurmin Gwari area on Saturday, initially sparked fears of a terror attack before authorities clarified it was an industrial incident.

According to a statement signed by the DICON Public Relations Officer, Maria Sambo, the explosion happened during the final phase of controlled destruction of expired explosives and other hazardous materials stored at the factory.

“Some old storage bunkers used to store raw materials for production contained several expired items which had exceeded their lifespans, including a large quantity of Ammonia Nitrates, Primer Caps, Propellants, and others,” the statement explained.

The DICON spokesperson said the organisation had, since July 2025, begun a controlled disposal exercise to safely destroy the expired materials, adding that most of the hazardous substances, particularly the highly volatile Ammonia Nitrates, had already been successfully destroyed before Saturday’s incident.

“Unfortunately, the accident occurred while specialists were concluding the destruction of the remaining quantity of the expired items at the disposal pit,” she added.

The explosion claimed the life of a DICON personnel whose name had yet to be officially released as of press time. Several others sustained varying degrees of injuries and were rushed to the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna for treatment.

“The body of the deceased personnel has been deposited at the mortuary, while the injured staff are receiving treatment,” Sambo said.

She expressed the organisation’s condolences to the family of the deceased and wished the injured a quick recovery.

Following the blast, fears spread among residents of Kurmin Gwari and neighbouring communities, some of whom reported hearing the deafening sound several kilometres away.

However, DICON assured the public that there was no further cause for panic as the situation had been brought under control and the remaining materials secured.

Read also:FG, World Customs train MAN, NACCIMA on AfCFTA Rule of Origin

“The neighbouring community is assured that DICON, as a responsible professional organisation, has institutionalised operational safety to the highest level. People can go about their normal business,” Sambo stated.

Some residents who spoke to The PUNCH earlier had said the incident initially confused the area.

Residents living near the factory told one of our correspondents that the blast was so powerful that it shook buildings within the vicinity, triggering panic as people ran for safety.

“I heard a very big blast; it shook the surrounding buildings around DICON. People were running from the area. Initially, we thought it was a bomb explosion, but later we learnt it was from the factory,” a resident who did not want his name mentioned said.

Our correspondent gathered that the injured victims were immediately taken to St. Gerard Catholic Hospital in Kakuri, about two kilometres from the factory, for emergency treatment.

When The Punch visited the hospital, a large crowd of sympathisers, including DICON staff and relatives of the victims, were seen, with some weeping openly as doctors battled to save the lives of the injured.

A military ambulance later arrived at the hospital and evacuated the victims to the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna for further treatment.

One of the eyewitnesses who helped to convey the injured to the hospital told our correspondent that the explosion occurred during the production of gunpowder materials used in arms manufacturing.

“It was an explosion from the production of gunpowder—something called primer powder. It killed an official instantly… Four other civilian workers were critically injured. Their conditions are serious,” the source, who pleaded anonymity, said.

But to prevent a recurrence, DICON announced that a Board of Inquiry had been set up to investigate the immediate cause of the explosion.

“Accordingly, a Board of Inquiry has been instituted to unravel the immediate cause of the unfortunate incident,” Sambo confirmed in the statement.

The Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria, established in 1964, is Nigeria’s premier ordnance factory responsible for producing arms, ammunition, and other defence-related equipment for the country’s military and security agencies.

Over the years, the corporation has undertaken several safety upgrades, but Saturday’s incident highlights the risks inherent in handling military-grade explosives.

As of press time, security operatives had cordoned off the affected area, while DICON assured that normal activities within the factory and surrounding communities would continue unhindered.

“We remain committed to operational safety and will continue to safeguard the lives of our staff and the communities around us,” the statement added.

Punch