The Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) has confirmed that the explosion that rocked its factory in Kaduna on Saturday was caused by expired materials stored in its old bunkers for weapon production.
DICON’s Public Relations Officer, Maria Sambo, said in a statement that the blast occurred at about 10:00 am on September 20, 2025, at the corporation’s Ordnance Factory disposal pit, killing one person and injuring several others.
She explained that the old storage bunkers contained expired raw materials, including a large quantity of ammonium nitrates, primer caps, and propellants, which had exceeded their lifespan.
“DICON had since July 2025 initiated efforts to ensure the controlled disposal of these expired items and had successfully destroyed all the ammonium nitrates and most of the other materials,” Sambo stated.
“The unfortunate explosion occurred as specialists were completing the destruction of the remaining items.”
The injured staff are receiving treatment at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna, while the body of the deceased has been deposited in the mortuary.
DICON commiserated with the families of the victims and assured the public that the situation is under control, urging residents of the neighbouring community not to panic as all remaining materials have been rendered safe.
The management also announced that a Board of Inquiry has been set up to determine the immediate cause of the explosion.
