NIGERIA: Explosion at DICON Factory Kills One, Injures Several

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria 

An explosion on Saturday, at the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) Ordnance Factory disposal pit in Kaduna has left one person dead and several others injured.

The incident, which occurred around 10:00 am, was linked to expired raw materials stored in old bunkers, including ammonia nitrates, primer caps, and propellants that had exceeded their lifespans.

According to a statement signed by DICON’s Public Relations Officer, Maria Sambo, the corporation had since July 2025 embarked on controlled disposal of the expired materials and had already destroyed all ammonia nitrates and the majority of other items.

However, the explosion occurred on Saturday while specialists were concluding the destruction of the remaining stock.

The statement read: “The injured DICON staff are currently receiving treatment at 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna, while the body of the deceased personnel has been deposited at the mortuary.”

DICON expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and wished the injured staff a speedy recovery, while assuring the public that the situation was fully under control.

Sambo added: “The neighbouring community is assured that DICON, as a responsible professional organisation, has institutionalised operational safety to the highest level, and they can go about their normal business. The remaining materials have been made safe.”