An Abuja-based singer, Ifunanya Nwangene, popularly known as Nanyah, died on Saturday after she was reportedly bitten by a cobra at her residence in Lugbe, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory.
She was 26 and rose to prominence after appearing on The Voice Nigeria, a reality TV show, in 2021.
The incident, which occurred in the early hours of the day, has since sparked intense public debate, with many Nigerians questioning how a preventable death could happen in the nation’s capital due to the unavailability of life-saving anti-venom.
Nwangene was said to have rushed herself to two different hospitals for urgent medical attention, but was reportedly left untreated due to the unavailability of anti-venom at both facilities.
She first stop at Divine Health Hospital, located at the Trade Fair Mall in Lugbe. However, she was allegedly told that the facility did not have anti-venom and could not treat her.
The second hospital was the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi, where Nanyah arrived at about 10 a.m.
According to source, staff at the emergency unit began asking routine questions while the singer’s condition deteriorated.
It was gathered that doctors removed the tourniquet Nanyah had tied around her arm to slow the spread of the venom and asked her to remain calm.
Confirming her death in a post on social media, Amemuso Choir which the deceased was a member of, said Kingsley Nwangene would be “deeply missed”
“Amemuso Choir regrets to announce the sudden demise of our beloved soprano Ifunanya Nwangene who passed away yesterday, 31st January 2026 at Federal Medical Centre due to a snake bite,” the statement reads.
