An explosion at the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) in Kaduna on Saturday left two workers dead, including a military officer, and injured four others.
The incident occurred at the corporation’s factory in the Kurmin Gwari area during a weekend shift and was reportedly linked to gunpowder production.
Residents said the blast was so powerful that it shook nearby buildings and triggered panic in the neighbourhood. “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 recounted.
The injured victims were first rushed to St. Gerard Catholic Hospital in Kakuri, where relatives and DICON staff gathered anxiously.
A military ambulance later moved them to the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital for further treatment.
An eyewitness who assisted in conveying the injured disclosed that the explosion happened during the production of primer powder used in arms manufacturing. “It killed a military officer instantly, as well as one civilian worker. Four other civilian workers were critically injured,” the source said.
As of press time, DICON management had not issued an official statement.
Founded in 1964, DICON is Nigeria’s primary arms manufacturer, responsible for producing weapons and ammunition for the armed forces.
The latest incident has reignited concerns among residents about safety standards at the facility, which is located within a densely populated part of Kaduna metropolis.