An explosion believed to have emanated from gunpowder production at the Defence Industries Corporation (DIC) killed two workers—including a military officer—and injured four others on Saturday.
The incident, it was gathered 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.
It was gathered that the injured victims were immediately taken to St. Gerard Catholic Hospital in Kakuri, about two kilometres from the factory, for emergency treatment.
It was also gathered that at 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.
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.
