Friend Recounts Final Hours of Abuja Singer Who Died From Cobra Bite

Kingsley Nwangene, a close friend of Abuja based musician, Ifunanya Nwangene, has narrated the final moments of the singer who died after being bitten by a snake at her home in Lugbe, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory.

Ifunanya, popularly known as Nanyah and fondly called the Soprano Queen, reportedly died on Saturday after a cobra bit her in the early hours of the day. She was 26.

The singer rose to national prominence after featuring on The Voice Nigeria in 2021 and was widely admired within Abuja’s choral and creative community for her powerful soprano voice.

In an emotional account shared on Instagram, Nwangene said he received a distress call from the singer at about 8:30 a.m. on Sunday.

“She told me, ‘Emy, don’t panic, but a snake has bitten me. I’m on my way to the hospital,’” he recalled.

According to him, Nanyah explained that she had been asleep when she felt a sharp pain. When she opened her eyes, she saw a snake in her room. Though shocked, Nwangene said he focused on ensuring she received medical attention as quickly as possible.

The singer reportedly booked a motorcycle ride herself and headed to Divine Health Hospital at the Trade Fair Mall in Lugbe. However, she was allegedly informed that the hospital did not have anti venom and could not treat her.

“She decided to go to another hospital that might have the anti venom,” Nwangene said, adding that he remained on the phone with her throughout.

Her next stop was the Federal Medical Centre in Jabi, where she arrived at about 10 a.m. He said staff at the emergency unit began routine checks as her condition worsened.

According to Nwangene, the singer repeatedly asked whether anti venom was available.

“She told me they said they would give her a drip,” he said.

Doctors later removed a tourniquet she had tied around her arm in an attempt to slow the spread of the venom and advised her to stay calm.

“She told me, ‘Emy, they have removed what I used to tie my hand.’ I felt relieved because she was finally in the hospital. I believed they knew what they were doing,” he said.

Nanyah later died from the effects of the venom.

Following her death, videos surfaced online showing a snake catcher handling a large snake reportedly found in her residence.

Some accounts claimed that two snakes were eventually discovered in the house.

Friends also disclosed that the singer had previously complained about seeing a large snake in her home, a revelation that has deepened the shock surrounding her death.

Nanyah was known for blending classical, jazz, R&B, soul, and choral music. She gained popularity through choir performances, TikTok content, and her appearance on The Voice Nigeria.

Friends said she was active on social media earlier that day, unaware it would be her last.

Tributes have poured in from fans and colleagues, many describing her as a joyful soul with an angelic voice.

Some choirs in Abuja reportedly held special renditions in her honour during church services.

Meanwhile, the BBC reported that her body has been exhumed and moved to Enugu State.

Speaking to the BBC, the leader of the Abuja Metropolitan Music Society Choir, Sam Ezugwu, said the singer’s father ordered that her body be transported after receiving confirmation of her death.

“Ifunanya’s father personally called for an ambulance and requested that his daughter’s body be taken to Enugu State,” he said.

According to him, the remains have been deposited at the Enugu State mortuary as burial arrangements are being finalised.

The singer’s death has reignited nationwide debate about snakebite management and emergency healthcare in Nigeria.

Health advocates and social media users have questioned how hospitals in the nation’s capital could lack anti venom, a critical requirement for treating snakebites.

According to a 2021 State Ministry of Health record, Nigeria records an estimated 20,000 snakebite cases annually, with about 2,000 resulting deaths, many linked to delayed treatment and lack of anti venom.

While some reactions veered into speculation, most public commentary focused on what many described as a systemic failure of the healthcare sector.

Nwangene praised his friend’s courage and calmness but lamented that a system she trusted failed her despite seeking help promptly.