BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja
Fresh facts have emerged on how dangerous snakes penetrated late singer, Ifunanya Nwangene's home in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.
Nwangene, a soprano singer with the Abuja Metropolitan Music Society (Amemuso) Choir died of complications from snake bite and insufficient antivenom at the Federal Medical Centre, Abuja on Saturday.
Sources pointed out that the snakes penetrated her home through the plumbing system, as the house was connected to a central sewage system, making it easy for reptiles to enter through drainage pipes.
It was also revealed that the snake identified as a cobra emerged from one of the toilets and bit her while she was lying down on a bed in her room.
Amemuso Choir Reacts
The Music Director of Amemuso Choir, Sam Ezugwu provided insight into the death of Nwangene.
A statement on Amemuso's Facebook page on Sunday, February 1 read: "We regret to announce the sudden demise of our beloved soprano, Ifunanya Nwangene, who passed away yesterday, 31st January 2026, at the Federal Medical Centre due to a snake bite,” the statement read.
Ezugwu described the deceased as a fast-rising talent within Abuja’s music community, saying that her death struck at a critical stage of her artistic journey.
"A rising star, Ifunanya was on the cusp of sharing her incredible talent with the world.
"We were there when she gave up the ghost. The snake bit her. She rushed herself to a private hospital at Lugbe, where she stays. The name of the hospital is Divine Health, located at Trademore, Lugbe. The hospital didn’t have antivenom."
The music director lamented that the challenges associated with transportation and lack of antivenom at the first hospital delayed her transfer to a tertiary health facility.
"She rushed back home. Her landlord tried to take her to FMC, Jabi, but his car refused to start. She booked a Bolt to FMC. She narrated to the medical personnel who were on the ground what happened to her," he added.
Limited Treatment
Ezugwu informed that although FMC attended to her but the hospital experienced limitations in treating her condition.
"When we got the call, we rushed down to FMC and met the doctors attending to her. She was struggling. The hospital informed us that they had one antivenom but did not have the second one.
"We were running around to buy the second one and she gave up," he said.
Ezugwu stated that steps were taken after her death to confirm the species of snake by engaging the services of a snake charmer.
"Afterwards, we contacted a snake charmer who went to her room to get the snake. The snake that was killed inside her house was a cobra. And then, there was another snake that was seen outside her house by the entrance that was also killed," he said.
Family Responds
Speaking via Instagram, the deceased brother, Kingsley Nwangene said that Ifunanya contacted him around 8:30 am on January 31, 2026, informing him that she was bitten by a snake and was already on her way to a hospital.
She said: "Ify called me yesterday morning (January 31) at about 8:30 am. She says ‘Emy don’t panic but I have just been bitten by a snake I’m on my way to the hospital–Divine Health Hospital, Trademore Lugbe Abuja. I realise that wasn’t the time to ask too many questions so I cut the call and called her back with my smaller phone immediately.
He noted that Nanyah tied her hand with a bandage to slow the spread of the venom and went to a private hospital in Lugbe, Abuja.
"On arrival, she was told the hospital did not have anti-venom and could not treat her.
"That was the first hospital she went to. When she got there, they immediately said they didn’t have anti-venom and could not help her. Note that while all this was happening, I was still on a call with her, never hung up, and she was speaking fine with me," he said.
Thereafter, Nanyah arranged for another car to Federal Medical Centre, Abuja, while Kingsley kept communicating with her on phone before she arrived there.
He said: "When she arrived at FMC shortly before 10 am, she was taken into the emergency unit. The medical staff asked her questions and later placed her on a drip.
"Before the fixing the drip, the doctor removed the stuff she used to tie her hands to avoid the circulation of the venom and kept telling her to calm down. When the drip was in, she started feeling dizzy and her tongue wasn’t speaking well again.
"Not long after, her condition reportedly worsened as she became dizzy and her speech became unclear. By this time, another family member had arrived at the hospital.
"Despite efforts by the medical staff, Nanyah Music did not survive."
Failed Healthcare
Kingsley dismissed claims that she arrived late at the hospital or was unable to speak properly, attributing the incident as a failure of the healthcare system.
He informed that Nanyah sought help early and was stable during transportation, blaming delay and lack of proper treatment for her death.
Kingsley added: "She came in by herself with both legs without any help, I was speaking with her through it all, she was very audible.
"Why did they remove the stuff she tied to prevent the spread of the venom? Told her to calm down and proceed to put a drip? The hospital failed her and doubled down to lie about everything.
"I hate the country so much. We had such a great time together in Abuja this past Christmas. How was I to know it would be the last time with you."
FMC Denies Negligence
The Federal Medical Centre, Abuja has denied allegations of negligence, adding that all necessary medical interventions were administered to the deceased.
"Our medical staff provided immediate and appropriate treatment, including resuscitation efforts, intravenous fluids, intranasal oxygen, and the administration of polyvalent snake antivenom," the hospital said.
FMC disclosed that Nwangene suffered severe neurotoxic complications and deteriorated suddenly while being prepared for transfer to the Intensive Care Unit.
"Despite all efforts to stabilise her condition and provide CPR, we were unable to revive her," the statement read.
The hospital described claims of non-availability of antivenom as unfounded.
Body Hits Enugu
Already, the body of Ifunanya Nwangene was transported to her father in Enugu State on Tuesday, according to Amemuso Choir.
Ezugwu said that the deceased father, Mr Nwangene was in constant communication with person's in Abuja and pleaded that arrangements should be made to transport his daughter’s body to Enugu.
He noted that the body was subsequently moved to the mortuary, embalmed and conveyed by ambulance to Enugu after prayers by the Assistant Parish Priest, Fr Stephen Biodun of Guardian Angel Catholic Chapel, Lugbe.
While saying that burial arrangements would be announced later, the Amemuso Choir described Nwangene’s death as a huge loss to Abuja music community.
The World Health Organisation estimates that snakebite envenoming leads to 138,000 deaths and 400,000 permanent disabilities annually. The figure represented nearly half the global burden of all neglected tropical diseases.
Regrettably, Nigeria’s healthcare system suffers from indepth systemic failures, including acute underfunding, severe brain drain of medical professionals and dilapidated infrastructure. These issues contribute hugely to shortage of medical supplies, alarming medical negligence and increased number of deaths for preventable diseases.
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