BREAKING: 2 Killed As Explosion Rocks DICON Factory In Kaduna
An explosion at the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) in Kaduna on Saturday claimed two lives, including that of a military officer, and left four other workers injured.
The Genius Media Nigeria reports that The incident, which reportedly occurred during gunpowder production at the factory in the Kurmin Gwari area of the city, sent shockwaves across surrounding communities.
Residents said the blast was so loud that it shook nearby buildings and caused panic in the neighbourhood.
Eyewitnesses told Newsmen correspondent that the explosion happened while some workers were on weekend shift.
“It was from the production of gunpowders, what they call primer powder. The explosion killed a military officer instantly and one civilian staff. Four others were critically injured,” one source said.
The victims were first rushed to St. Gerard Catholic Hospital, Kakuri, about two kilometres from the factory, before military ambulances later moved them to the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna.
When correspondent visited St. Gerard, relatives and colleagues of the victims were seen weeping as sympathisers trooped into the hospital premises.
A resident of Kurmin Gwari said: “The sound was deafening, and it shook the buildings around DICON. People started running, thinking it was a bomb, before we learnt it happened inside the factory.”
As at the time of filing this report, efforts to get reaction from DICON management were unsuccessful.
