Ifunanya Nwangene: Choir narrates final hours of singer killed by Snake bite in Abuja

The Amemuso Choir has narrated the tragic final hours of its soprano singer, Ifunanya Nwangene, whose death on Saturday after a snake bite in Lugbe, Abuja, has reignited concerns over emergency medical response and access to life-saving antivenom in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Nwangene, 25, popularly known as Nanyah, died at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi, barely hours after she was bitten by a snake in her residence.

Confirming the incident in a statement on Sunday, the choir said the fast-rising singer died on January 31, 2026, describing her death as a painful loss at a crucial stage of her musical career.

“We regret to announce the sudden demise of our beloved soprano, Ifunanya Nwangene, who passed away yesterday at the Federal Medical Centre due to a snake bite,” the statement signed by the choir’s Music Director, Sam Ezugwu, read.

The choir described her as a gifted vocalist whose voice and dedication had set her apart within the ensemble.

Providing details of the incident, Ezugwu said Nwangene was bitten while asleep in her room on Saturday morning.

“She was sleeping when the snake bit her around 8 or 9am. She woke up, realised what had happened, and rushed herself to a nearby private hospital in Lugbe,” he said.

However, the first hospital, identified as Divine Health Hospital, Trademore, reportedly lacked antivenom needed for immediate treatment.

“They told her they didn’t have antivenom. That was the first major setback,” Ezugwu said.

With her condition worsening, Nwangene returned home in a bid to reach a tertiary hospital. An attempt by her landlord to convey her to FMC reportedly failed when his vehicle developed a fault.

Running out of time, she booked a ride-hailing service and travelled alone to FMC, Jabi.

“When she arrived, she explained to the doctors that she had been bitten by a snake and that the first hospital had no antivenom,” Ezugwu said.

According to him, doctors immediately attended to her but informed the family that the hospital had only one dose of antivenom, whereas her condition required more.

“The doctors said they had one antivenom and urgently needed a second one. We were making calls and trying to source it,” he said.

Before additional medication could be secured, her condition deteriorated.

“In the process of trying to get the second antivenom, she passed away,” Ezugwu added.

She was pronounced dead at 12:20pm, about three to four hours after the bite.

After her death, the choir said a snake charmer identified the snake killed inside her room as a cobra, adding that another snake was also found and killed near the entrance of the residence.

Meanwhile, FMC, Jabi, has dismissed claims that Nwangene died due to lack of antivenom.

In a statement signed by the hospital’s Head of Clinical Services, Dr Bioku Muftau, the management said the singer died from severe neurotoxic complications of the snake bite, despite what it described as prompt medical intervention.

According to the hospital, Nwangene had already developed advanced neurotoxic effects before arrival and was being prepared for transfer to the Intensive Care Unit when her condition suddenly worsened.

“Despite aggressive resuscitative measures, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the patient could not be revived,” the statement said.

FMC described allegations of negligence or non-availability of antivenom as misleading and urged the public to rely on verified information rather than speculation.