Society
DICON Explains Ordnance Explosion At Factory, Launches Probe
which claimed the life of one staff member and left several others injured.
The Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) has explained the circumstances surrounding Saturday’s explosion at its Ordnance Factory disposal pit in Kaduna, which claimed the life of one staff member and left several others injured.
The incident, which occurred around 10 a.m. on September 20, 2025, happened while specialists were concluding the destruction of expired materials stored in old bunkers. The items, which had long exceeded their lifespans, included ammonia nitrates, primer caps, propellants and other raw materials once used for production.
In a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Maria Sambo, DICON said it had since July embarked on controlled disposal of the expired stockpiles, successfully eliminating all the ammonia nitrates and the majority of other hazardous items before Saturday’s accident.
“The unfortunate accident occurred while specialists were concluding the destruction of the remaining quantity of the expired items at the disposal pit,” the statement read.
The injured staff are receiving treatment at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna, while the deceased has been deposited at the hospital’s mortuary.
While commiserating with families and colleagues of the deceased and wishing the injured a quick recovery, DICON assured the public that the situation is under control and posed no further danger to the surrounding community. It added that the remaining materials have been made safe.
“As a responsible professional organisation, DICON has institutionalised operational safety to the highest level, and the neighbouring community can go about their normal business,” the statement further noted.
The corporation also disclosed that a Board of Inquiry has been set up to determine the immediate cause of the explosion.
