The Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) has confirmed that Saturday’s explosion at its factory in Kaduna State claimed the life of one staff member and left several others injured.
In a statement, DICON’s Public Relations Officer, Maria Sambo, explained that the blast was caused by expired raw materials stored in old bunkers previously used for weapons production.
The explosion occurred at about 10:00 a.m. as specialists were completing the destruction of expired ammonium nitrate, primer caps, propellants, and other components at the corporation’s disposal pit in the Kakuri Industrial Area of Kaduna South Local Government Area.
According to the statement, the storage bunkers contained large quantities of expired explosive materials, many of which had exceeded their safety lifespan. DICON began controlled disposal in July 2025, successfully destroying all expired ammonium nitrate and most other items before the incident.
A Board of Inquiry has been set up to investigate the immediate cause of the explosion and recommend measures to prevent a recurrence.
The injured personnel are being treated at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna, while the body of the deceased has been placed in the hospital’s mortuary.
DICON expressed condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of the deceased, wished the injured a swift recovery, and assured residents that the situation was under control.
“The neighbouring community is assured that DICON, as a responsible and professional organisation, has institutionalised operational safety to the highest level. Residents can go about their normal business. The remaining materials have been made safe,” the statement added.