2 persons dead, 4 others sustain injuries at DICON factory explosion in Kaduna

Two persons have been confirmed dead, while four others sustained various degree of injuries following explosion at Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) in Kaduna on Saturday.

CAPITAL POST reports that a military officer was among the dead.

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The explosion occur during gunpowder production at the factory located in Kurmin Gwari, which sent panic across the adjoining communities thereby making resident to flee.

Residents of the area initially thought it was bomb blast by non state-actors before realizing, the explosion came from the military factory close to them.

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The injured victims were rushed to St. Gerard Catholic Hospital in Kakuri, where distraught relatives and colleagues gathered as doctors hurriedly begin to attend to them.

It was later gathered on Sunday that the military ambulance moved them to the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital for further treatment.

Witnesses said the explosion occurred during the handling of primer powder, a key material in weapons production, killing a military officer and a civilian worker instantly while four other staff members sustained life-threatening injuries.

The explosion has heightened concerns among residents about safety standards at the 61-year-old arms factory, which is located in a densely populated part of Kaduna metropolis.

Meanwhile, a statement issued by the Principal Superintendent of Press in the Minisitry of Defence, Pat Ituke, said the Minister of State for Defence, Mohammed Bello Matawalle immediately paid a visit to the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) Kaduna facility following an ordnance explosion on the morning of 20 September 2025.

According to him, the Minister while at the facility assured that the situation has been brought under control.

The statement said: “During the visit to the scene, the Minister was briefed on immediate cause and response measures.

“Preliminary reports indicates that the explosion occurred while specialists were concluding the destruction of remaining quantities of expired materials, including ammonium nitrate, primer caps, propellants and other hazardous substances.

“A thorough investigation will be carried out to determine the cause of the explosion and to recommend measures to prevent recurrence.

“Appropriate support will be provided to affected personnel and their families,” he stated.

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