From Femi Mustapha, in Kaduna
A devastating explosion occurred at the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) factory in the Kurmin Gwari area of Kaduna on Saturday, resulting in the death of two workers, including a military officer, and injuring four others.
The incident happened during a weekend shift while materials for gunpowder were being produced for arms manufacturing.
The blast was so powerful that it shook nearby buildings, causing panic among residents.
One resident recounted: “I heard a deafening explosion; it shook the buildings around DICON. People were running from the area. At first, we thought it was a bomb, but later we learned it was from the factory.”
The injured individuals were quickly transported to St. Gerard Catholic Hospital in Kakuri for emergency treatment.
They were subsequently moved to the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna for further medical attention.
A large crowd of sympathizers gathered at the hospital, with some openly weeping as doctors worked to save the injured.
According to an eyewitness, the explosion happened while producing primer powder, a component of gunpowder.
“It instantly killed a military officer and one civilian worker. Four other civilian workers were critically injured, and their conditions are serious,” the witness reported.
The incident has raised safety concerns among residents, particularly due to the factory’s location in a densely populated area of Kaduna metropolis. The management of DICON was unavailable for comments at the time of reporting.
