New details have emerged regarding the tragic death of 25-year-old Abuja-based singer Ifunanya Lucy Nwangene, popularly known as Nanyah, who passed away after a snakebite at her Lugbe home.
Nanyah, known for her work in classical, jazz, rhythm and blues, and soul music, was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre in Abuja. Despite efforts by medical staff, she could not be saved.
Sam C. Ezugwu, Director of the Amemuso Choir, of which Nanyah was a member, recounted the frantic events surrounding her passing. According to him, the first alert came at 10:13 a.m. via a WhatsApp message from a choir member requesting urgent assistance near the Federal Medical Centre.
Ezugwu immediately contacted Vincent, another choir member trained in emergency response, to head to the hospital, while he and Paschal, Nanyah’s close friend, followed shortly after.
Upon arriving, they found doctors already attending to Nanyah, who was struggling to breathe and receiving oxygen. Though she could not speak, she reportedly communicated through hand gestures. Medical staff confirmed that she had arrived at the emergency ward alone and explained that she had been bitten by a grey snake.
She was given antivenom and other treatments, but the Federal Medical Centre had run out of Neostigmine, a crucial drug. Ezugwu and Vincent quickly sourced the medication from Skylark Pharmacy near the National Hospital. Sadly, by the time they returned, Nanyah had passed away.
Neighbours revealed that she was bitten on her wrist while sleeping between 8:00 and 9:00 a.m. After initial first aid, she tried to drive to the hospital, but her car broke down. She then ran roughly 500 metres to the estate gate, hired a motorcycle, and went to Divine Health Hospital before eventually securing transport to the Federal Medical Centre. Throughout the ordeal, she remained in touch with friends, family, and choir members.
Her father, Mr. Nwangene, worked with Vincent and her uncle, Mr. Joseph, to arrange an ambulance and the eventual transportation of her body to Enugu.
Following her death, a professional snake handler examined her Lugbe home. Ezugwu revealed that a medium-sized cobra was found in her room, a smaller snake near her doormat, and a third in a nearby compound. It was confirmed that the fatal bite came from the cobra.
In his words: “I immediately called her to ask what was wrong. She informed me that Ifunanya had been bitten by a snake.”
“I quickly contacted Vincent, a member of the choir known for handling emergency situations, and asked him to head to the Federal Medical Centre.”
“When I arrived at the hospital with Paschal, Ifunanya’s closest friend, the doctors were already attending to her.”
“She was struggling to breathe, had been placed on oxygen, and was unable to speak, though she tried to communicate using hand gestures.”
“One of the doctors confirmed that Ifunanya arrived at the emergency ward by herself and had explained what happened. She reportedly told them that she saw a grey snake that bit her.”
“Ifunanya was placed on a drip and administered antivenom, alongside other treatments.”
“As medical efforts continued, the doctor in charge informed Vincent that they urgently needed Neostigmine and additional doses of the medication already administered, explaining that the hospital had exhausted its supply.”
“She was bitten on the wrist by a snake while sleeping in her room between eight and nine in the morning. She rushed out to seek help, and neighbours immediately tied her hand to slow the spread of venom and encouraged her to go to the hospital.”
“A neighbour attempted to assist, but her car failed to start despite several attempts. Ifunanya then ran approximately five hundred metres to the estate gate, took a motorcycle, and went to Divine Health Hospital, the closest hospital to her residence in Lugbe, Abuja.”
“She subsequently booked a ride to the Federal Medical Centre and, while in transit around nine forty in the morning, contacted friends, family members, and members of the Amemuso Choir.”
“Throughout this period, Mr Joseph and Vincent were in constant communication with her father, Mr Nwangene, who requested that they arrange for an ambulance and the transportation of his daughter’s body to Enugu.”
“Unfortunately, the hospital did not have antivenom and referred her to the Federal Medical Centre.”
“Upon inspection of Ifunanya’s residence, a medium-sized cobra was found inside her room, another smaller snake was discovered near her doormat, and a third snake was located in a nearby compound. It was concluded that the cobra was responsible for the fatal bite.”
“After her death was confirmed, Ifunanya’s body was moved to the mortuary, embalmed, and prepared for transportation. Members of the Amemuso Board, including its president, Dr Dayo Benjamins Laniyi, visited during the process.”
“There, the Assistant Parish Priest, Father Stephen Biodun, prayed over and blessed her remains before the ambulance departed for Enugu.”
See post below:
This is one of the two snakes that k’lłed fast rising Nigerian singer, Ifunanya, known on social media as Nanyah Music, @nanyah_music. She was rushed to the hospital after being bitten in her home, but sadly did not survive. https://t.co/NIB6ex3o7i pic.twitter.com/sulatSFRl5
— Ozor Ndi Ozor (@OzorNdiOzor) February 1, 2026
