JUST IN: Deadly Explosion Rocks Kaduna Defence Industries Corporation — One Feared Dead, Several Injured

Panic gripped Kaduna on Saturday as a powerful explosion ripped through the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) factory in the Kakuri Industrial Layout, leaving one person dead and several others injured.

The blast, which occurred in the early hours, sent shockwaves across the city, with residents in Chikun and Kaduna South Local Government Areas reporting that they felt the tremors and heard the deafening sound miles away.

Eyewitnesses described the explosion as “violent and terrifying,” forcing many residents to flee their homes in panic. Thick smoke reportedly billowed into the sky, causing widespread fear in neighbouring communities.

Reliable sources confirmed that at least one person was killed, while several others sustained varying degrees of injuries. The wounded were immediately evacuated to nearby hospitals, including the Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna, where they are currently receiving treatment.

Although the exact cause of the explosion remains unclear, security operatives have cordoned off the area while emergency response teams assess the extent of the damage. A full investigation is expected to be launched in the coming hours to determine whether the blast was accidental or sabotage.

As of press time, neither DICON nor government authorities had issued an official statement regarding the incident, leaving anxious residents and the nation at large awaiting clarity.

The Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria, established in 1964, is the country’s premier military hardware manufacturer, making the explosion not just a local tragedy but a matter of national concern.