The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) on Saturday disclosed that it has commenced investigating an ordnance explosion that occurred at the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) in Kaduna.
The Director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Tukur Gusau, who made this disclosure in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja, said the blast led to the death of one personnel while several others sustained injuries. The injured are receiving treatment at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna.
“The explosion happened during the destruction of expired ordnance materials, including ammonium nitrate, primer caps, propellants, and other hazardous substances,” Gusau explained. He added that the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, had commiserated with the family of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
The DICON Public Relations Officer, Maria Sambo, said the explosion occurred during the final phase of a controlled disposal exercise of expired explosives, noting that most of the volatile materials had already been safely destroyed.
She confirmed the deceased’s body has been deposited at the mortuary, while injured personnel are under treatment.
The blast reportedly shook nearby buildings in Kurmin Gwari, alarming residents who initially feared a terror attack. Some injured victims were first taken to St. Gerard Catholic Hospital in Kakuri before being transferred to the Army hospital.
