An Abuja-based singer widely known as Nanyah, Ifunanya Nwangene, has died after sustaining a snake bite at her residence on Saturday.
Reports indicate that Nwangene sought urgent medical care at two hospitals but was allegedly not treated promptly due to the absence of anti-venom at both facilities.
Confirming her passing via social media, Amemuso Choir, of which she was a member, said Nwangene would be “deeply missed”.
“Amemuso Choir regrets to announce the sudden demise of our beloved soprano Ifunanya Nwangene who passed away yesterday, 31st January 2026 at Federal Medical Centre due to a snake bite,” the statement read.
“A rising star, Ifunanya was at the cusp of sharing her incredible talent with the world. Her voice and spirit will be deeply missed.”
In an interview with TheCable, Sam Ezugwu, Amemuso’s music director, recounted the singer’s final moments, describing a desperate race against time that ultimately failed.
Ezugwu said he became aware of the situation after seeing a post on Ifunanya’s social media page requesting help at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC).
“It was yesterday when I saw a post on her page asking if anyone is near FMC. So I called the person with her to ask what happened and they told me Ifunanya was bitten by a snake,” he said.
According to him, he rushed to the hospital and met Ifunanya in critical condition. He was informed by medical staff that two doses of anti-venom were needed, but only one was available and had already been administered.
“So I had to go 10 minutes away to Skylark Pharmacy near National Hospital to get the second one,” he said.
“As I was driving back to the hospital with the anti-venom, her friend who was with her called me and said Ifunanya had died. She died at 12:20 pm.”
Ezugwu noted that hospital officials maintained that medical attention was provided immediately upon her arrival at FMC, but delays had occurred earlier while she sought help elsewhere.
“From what I know, after she was bitten by the snake, Ifunanya went to a hospital in Lugbe and they said they don’t have anti-venom. So she took a Bolt to FMC,” he said.
”The distance is about 30 minutes. She was still active when she got to FMC and narrated what happened to them. She even described the type of snake to them.”
He added that a doctor later explained that the venom had already spread by the time she arrived at FMC.
“What pains me the most is why a hospital like FMC will not have the required treatment. It is really so sad,” he said.
Ezugwu also disclosed that the family had requested that her body be transported to Enugu State.
Following reports of her death, videos circulated online showing a man holding a long black snake, said to have been captured from the late singer’s apartment after the incident.
Her death has sparked widespread reactions, with many Nigerians lamenting the country’s weak emergency response system and the persistent shortage of life-saving drugs such as anti-venom in hospitals.
FMC Abuja denies negligence reports
Meanwhile, the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Abuja addressed controversy trailing the singer’s death.
In its official response, the FMC management defended its actions, stating that its staff provided immediate and comprehensive care.
The hospital confirmed that treatment included resuscitation efforts, intravenous fluids, intranasal oxygen, and the administration of “polyvalent snake antivenom”.
The statement disclosed that the hospital’s evaluation found that Nwangene had “suffered severe neurotoxic complications” from the bite.
It added that as preparations were being made to admit her to the intensive care unit (ICU), she “developed a sudden deterioration”.
“We want to clarify that the management team at Federal Medical Centre, Abuja acted promptly and with the utmost care upon Ms. Nwagene’s arrival,” the statement reads.
“Our medical staff provided immediate and appropriate treatment, including resuscitation efforts, intravenous fluids, intranasal oxygen, and the administration of polyvalent snake antivenom.
“After a thorough but quick evaluation, it was clear that Ms. Nwagene suffered severe neurotoxic complications from the snake bite.
“Despite all efforts to stabilize her condition and transfer her to the Intensive Care Unit for further treatment, she experienced a sudden deterioration just before the transfer.
“Our team of professionals worked diligently to provide CPR and other life-saving measures; however, despite these efforts, we were unable to revive her.”
The FMC denied allegations of negligence or a lack of anti-venom, calling such claims “unfounded”.
“We stand by the quality of care and dedication our team demonstrates daily. The claims of non-availability of anti-snake venom and inadequate response are unfounded and do not reflect the reality of the situation,” it added.
“We are committed to transparency and integrity in our practices and will continue to pursue excellence in patient care.
“In light of these events, we encourage our community to engage with credible sources for information and updates rather than relying on social media speculation. We remain available for any further inquiries or clarifications.”