The Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) has confirmed the death of one staff member and injuries to others following an explosion at its Ordnance Factory Disposal Pit in Kaduna.
In a statement on Saturday, the corporation’s Public Relations Officer, Maria Sambo, explained that the incident occurred during the destruction of expired production materials.
According to her, the affected bunkers had stored obsolete raw materials, including large quantities of ammonium nitrate, primer caps, and propellants, which had exceeded their shelf lives.
She noted that DICON had since July embarked on a controlled disposal process and had already destroyed all ammonium nitrates and most other expired items. However, the explosion happened on September 20 as specialists were completing the disposal of the remaining stock.
“The injured staff are receiving treatment at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna, while the body of the deceased has been deposited at the mortuary,” Sambo said.
She assured the public that the situation had been brought under control and urged residents of the neighbouring community not to panic.
“DICON remains committed to the highest standards of operational safety. The remaining materials have been secured, and normalcy has returned,” she added.
Sambo further disclosed that a board of inquiry has been set up to investigate the immediate cause of the incident.