The incident occurred at the corporation’s factory in the
Kurmin Gwari area of Kaduna metropolis during a weekend shift.

Residents living near the factory told one of our
correspondents  that the blast was so
powerful that it shook buildings within the vicinity, triggering panic as
people ran for safety.

“I heard a very big blast; it shook the surrounding
buildings around DICON. People were running from the area. Initially, we
thought it was a bomb explosion, but later we learnt it was from the factory,”
a resident who did not want his name mentioned said.

Our correspondent gathered that the injured victims were
immediately taken to St. Gerard Catholic Hospital in Kakuri, about two
kilometres from the factory, for emergency treatment.

When The Punch visited the hospital, a large crowd of
sympathisers, including DICON staff and relatives of the victims, were seen,
with some weeping openly as doctors battled to save the lives of the injured.

A military ambulance later arrived at the hospital and
evacuated the victims to the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna for
further treatment.

One of the eyewitnesses who helped to convey the injured to
the hospital told our correspondent that the explosion occurred during the
production of gunpowder materials used in arms manufacturing.

“It was an explosion from the production of
gunpowder—something called primer powder. It killed a military officer
instantly, as well as one civilian worker. Four other civilian workers were
critically injured. Their conditions are serious,”  the source, who pleaded anonymity, said.

As of press time, efforts to speak with the management of
DICON on the incident proved abortive as no official was available for
comments.

The Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria, established
in 1964, is the country’s premier arms manufacturing outfit responsible for
producing weapons and ammunition for the Nigerian Armed Forces.

The Saturday explosion has raised concerns among residents
about safety standards at the facility, especially given its location within a
densely populated area of Kaduna metropolis.