KEY POINTS

• Abuja-based singer Ifunanya “Nanyah” Nwangene died after a snake bite and difficulty accessing anti-venom.

• Only one dose of anti-venom was reportedly available at FMC, though two were required.

• Her death has sparked public outrage over poor emergency healthcare and drug shortages in Nigeria.

Ifunanya Nwangene, an Abuja-based singer popularly known as Nanyah, has died after being bitten by a snake at her residence, in a tragic incident that has reignited public concern over Nigeria’s emergency healthcare response and the availability of life-saving drugs in hospitals.

Nwangene reportedly sustained the snake bite on Saturday and immediately sought medical attention. However, her efforts to receive urgent treatment were hampered by the lack of anti-venom in more than one medical facility, a delay that ultimately proved fatal.

The death of the singer was confirmed by Amemuso Choir, a musical group she belonged to, in a statement shared on social media.

“Amemuso Choir regrets to announce the sudden demise of our beloved soprano, Ifunanya Nwangene, who passed away on January 31, 2026, at the Federal Medical Centre due to a snake bite,” the statement said.

The choir described Nanyah as a gifted and promising artiste who was on the verge of wider recognition, noting that her voice, passion, and dedication to music had endeared her to fellow choristers and audiences alike.

Final Hours Marked by Desperate Search for Treatment

Speaking with newsmen, Sam Ezugwu, music director of Amemuso Choir, provided a detailed account of Nwangene’s final hours and the frantic effort to save her life.

Ezugwu said he became aware of the emergency after seeing a message posted on Nwangene’s social media page asking if anyone was near the Federal Medical Centre (FMC).

He explained that upon calling the person with her, he was told that Nanyah had been bitten by a snake and urgently needed help.

Ezugwu said he immediately made his way to FMC, where he met Nwangene in severe distress.

According to Ezugwu, medical personnel at FMC informed him that Nwangene required two doses of anti-venom, but the hospital only had one dose available, which had already been administered.

In a bid to save her life, he said he was asked to source the second dose externally.

Ezugwu said he drove about ten minutes away to Skylark Pharmacy near the National Hospital to purchase the required anti-venom and rushed back toward FMC.

Tragically, while still on his way, he received a phone call from Nwangene’s friend informing him that she had passed away at about 12:20 pm.