Tragedy struck on Saturday at the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) in Kaduna when an explosion during gunpowder production claimed the lives of two workers, including a military officer, and left four others critically injured.

The blast occurred at the DICON facility in Kurmin Gwari, shaking nearby buildings and sparking panic among residents who initially feared a bomb attack.

Eyewitnesses said the explosion happened during the production of primer powder, a key component of ammunition.

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“It killed a military officer on the spot along with a civilian staff. Four others sustained severe injuries,” a source disclosed.

The injured victims were initially rushed to St. Gerard Catholic Hospital, Kakuri, before being transferred in military ambulances to the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna.

When journalists visited St. Gerard, distraught relatives and colleagues of the victims were seen in tears, as sympathisers gathered to console them.

A Kurmin Gwari resident recounted:

“The sound was so loud it shook surrounding buildings. People ran in fear thinking it was a bomb, only to discover it happened inside the factory.”

As of the time of filing this report, attempts to get an official response from the DICON management were unsuccessful.