The Defence Headquarters says it has commenced an investigation into an ordnance explosion that occurred on Saturday at the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria, Kaduna.
This is contained in a statement by the Director Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Tukur Gusau, on Saturday in Abuja.
Gusau said the incident led to the death of one personnel while others sustained injuries.
He said the explosion happened during the destruction of expired ordnance materials, including Ammonium Nitrate, primer caps, propellants and other hazardous substances.
According to him, the injured are receiving treatment at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna.
Gusau said the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, had commiserated with the family of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
He assured the public that the situation was under control and posed no threat to surrounding communities, adding that DICON maintained strict operational safety standards.
“The DHQ has ordered a thorough investigation to ascertain the immediate cause of the incident and to prevent a recurrence,” he said.
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says it has begun investigating an ordnance explosion that occurred on Saturday at the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) in Kaduna.
In a statement on Saturday in Abuja, the Director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Tukur Gusau 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.
PUNCH Online reports that 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.
“It was an explosion from the production of gunpowder, something called primer powder. It killed an official instantly… Four other civilian workers were critically injured. Their conditions are serious,” a source, who requested anonymity, told The PUNCH.
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.
DICON assured the public that the situation is under control and normal activities in the factory and surrounding communities will continue. The organisation has also set up a Board of Inquiry to investigate the immediate cause of the incident and prevent recurrence.
NAN
