An explosion at the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) ordnance factory in Kaduna on Saturday killed one staff member and left several others injured, officials have confirmed.
The incident occurred around 10 a.m. at the factory’s disposal pit, where specialists were handling expired military materials, according to a statement issued by DICON spokesperson, Maria Sambo.
DICON said the blast happened as staff were concluding the destruction of expired explosives and raw materials, including primer caps, propellants, and other volatile substances. The factory had earlier begun controlled disposal of the expired stockpiles in July, successfully destroying large quantities of ammonium nitrate and related items.
“The injured DICON staff are currently receiving treatment at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna, while the body of the deceased has been deposited at the mortuary,” the statement read.
The corporation assured nearby residents that the situation was under control and posed no danger to surrounding communities. It added that safety procedures had been put in place to secure the remaining materials.
A Board of Inquiry has also been inaugurated to investigate the immediate cause of the explosion.
The DICON, established in 1964, produces and maintains arms, ammunition, and other defence equipment for the Nigerian Armed Forces. Its Kaduna facility has been central to military hardware production and storage for decades.
Incidents involving old or poorly stored ordnance are not uncommon in Nigeria. In January 2002, a massive explosion at a military armoury in Ikeja, Lagos, killed more than 1,000 people and displaced thousands after fire spread to munitions stockpiled beyond their safe shelf life.
The Kaduna accident has renewed calls for stricter handling and timely disposal of expired military ordnance to prevent avoidable tragedies.
