ABUJA, Nigeria — Nigeria is mourning the death of aspiring singer Ifunanya Nwangene, 26, who died on Saturday after being bitten by a snake in her Abuja apartment.
Nwangene gained national recognition after appearing on The Voice Nigeria in 2021, where her versatility across jazz, opera, classical, and soul music impressed audiences. She was also a trained architect and had been planning her first solo concert later this year.
Videos circulating on social media show a snake handler removing a snake from her apartment, with bystanders exclaiming: “It is a cobra!”
Sam Ezugwu, a close friend and co-founder of the Amemuso Choir, where Nwangene sang, described her as a “rising star.” Another friend, Hillary Obinna, said Nwangene had been asleep when the snake bite woke her, and two snakes were later found in the house.
Nwangene initially sought care at a nearby clinic, but it lacked the necessary antivenom. She was transferred to the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, which had one type of antivenom but not the other. Ezugwu recounted:
“While they were trying to stabilise her, she could not speak but she could make hand gestures. She was struggling to breathe.”
Despite efforts to locate the missing antivenom, Nwangene passed away before it could be administered. The choir reportedly visited the hospital that evening, “hoping that a miracle would happen,” Ezugwu said.
The Federal Medical Centre responded to allegations of inadequate care, stating that claims were “unfounded and do not reflect the reality of the situation.” Its statement noted:
“Our medical staff provided immediate and appropriate treatment, including resuscitation efforts, intravenous fluids, intranasal oxygen, and the administration of polyvalent snake antivenom. A thorough but quick assessment showed severe complications from the bite, and despite our efforts, we were unable to revive her.”
Obinna described Nwangene as “a very wonderful girl, humble, intelligent and talented. Everybody is shattered. We could not sleep at night.”
Nwangene’s death has reignited debates in Nigeria over healthcare quality and patient safety, amid a spate of recent cases, including the death of novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s 21-month-old son.
In response, Nigeria’s health minister has acknowledged “systemic challenges” and announced a national task force on clinical governance and patient safety.
Snake bites are considered a neglected public health issue in many tropical and subtropical countries, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
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In Africa, between 435,000 and 580,000 snakebites occur annually, predominantly affecting women, children, and farmers in rural areas. These bites result in roughly 30,000 deaths each year in sub-Saharan Africa, though the true toll is likely higher.
Experts highlight the shortage of antivenoms as a key barrier to treatment.
Even when available, antivenoms are often costly and require refrigeration in areas with unreliable electricity, leaving many victims reliant on traditional healers and unrecorded in official statistics.
Nwangene’s death in an upscale part of Abuja has shocked many Nigerians and prompted renewed calls for urgent reforms to prevent similar tragedies in urban and rural areas alike.
