Kaduna State was thrown into panic on Saturday following a deadly explosion at the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), Nigeria’s foremost arms manufacturing facility, located in the Kurmin Gwari area of the state capital.
The incident, which occurred during a weekend shift at the factory, claimed the lives of two workers including a serving military officer and left four others with severe injuries.
Residents living near the DICON facility described the blast as “thunderous”, saying it shook buildings and sent frightened locals scrambling 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,” said a resident who requested anonymity.
Eyewitnesses said the explosion was linked to primer powder production, a critical component in the manufacture of gunpowder and ammunition for the Nigerian Armed Forces.
The injured were first taken to St. Gerard Catholic Hospital in Kakuri, barely two kilometres from the scene, where doctors battled to stabilise them.
When reporters arrived at the hospital, sympathisers thronged the premises, with colleagues and relatives of the victims seen wailing as they awaited updates on the condition of their loved ones.
Hours later, a military ambulance evacuated the victims to the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital for advanced treatment.
An eyewitness who participated in the rescue effort told that News Point Nigeria that: ‘It killed a military officer instantly, as well as one civilian worker. Four other civilian workers were critically injured. Their conditions are serious.”
Efforts to obtain an official statement from DICON’s management were unsuccessful as no senior official was available for comment at press time.
Security operatives were later seen restricting access to the factory area as investigations were expected to be launched to determine the cause of the blast.
The Saturday explosion has reignited concerns among Kaduna residents about safety protocols at DICON, particularly given its proximity to residential areas.
Established in 1964, the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria is Nigeria’s premier defence manufacturing institution, tasked with producing weapons, ammunition, explosives, and other military hardware for the country’s armed forces.
