The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) yesterday confirmed an explosion that occurred at the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) facility in Kaduna on the morning of 20 September 2025.
In a statement signed by the Acting Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, the military expressed deep regret in informing the public of the ordnance explosion at the DICON facility.
The Acting Director noted that the incident tragically resulted in one fatality and injuries to several other personnel.
According to preliminary reports, the explosion occurred while specialists were concluding the destruction of remaining quantities of expired materials, including ammonium nitrate, primer caps, propellants, and other hazardous substances.
Gusau further revealed that the injured personnel are currently receiving medical treatment at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna.
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, extended his condolences to the family and friends of the deceased, and wishes a swift recovery to those injured.
The military, however, assured the public that the situation is under control and that there is no cause for concern.
“The surrounding community has been reassured that DICON maintains strict operational safety standards. The corporation remains committed to upholding safety protocols and will conduct a thorough investigation to prevent future incidents,” the Acting Director stated.
Earlier, the Director General of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), Major General Babatunde Ibrahim Alaya in a statement signed by Maria Sambo, revealed that a Board of Inquiry has been constituted to determine the immediate cause of the unfortunate incident.
General Alaya explained that on Saturday, 20 September 2025, at about 10 a.m., an explosion occurred at the DICON Ordnance Factory disposal pit, resulting in one fatality and injuries to others.
He stated: “Some old storage bunkers used for storing raw materials for production contained several expired substances that had exceeded their lifespans, including a large quantity of ammonium nitrate, primer caps, propellants, and other items.
“DICON had initiated efforts since July 2025 to ensure the controlled disposal of these expired items and successfully destroyed all the ammonium nitrate and the majority of the other materials. However, the unfortunate explosion occurred while specialists were concluding the destruction of the remaining items at the disposal pit on Saturday, 20 September 2025.
“The injured DICON personnel are currently receiving treatment at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna, while the body of the deceased has been deposited at the mortuary.”
While commiserating with staff, families, and friends of the deceased, and wishing the injured a speedy recovery, DICON assured the general public that the situation is under control and there is no cause for panic.
The neighbouring community has also been reassured that DICON, as a responsible and professional organisation, has institutionalised the highest standards of operational safety, and residents can go about their normal activities without concern.
The remaining materials, he added, have been rendered safe.
Linus Aleke
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