An outpouring of grief has swept across Nigeria following the death of a young singer who died after being bitten by a snake at her home in the capital, Abuja.
Ifunanya Nwangene, 26, gained national attention after appearing on The Voice Nigeria in 2021. She was widely admired for her musical range, blending jazz, opera, classical music and soul, and was regarded by peers as a rising talent in the country’s creative scene.
Videos circulating on social media showed a snake handler removing a reptile from her apartment, as voices off camera shouted that it was a cobra. Friends later said more than one snake was found inside the home.
Close friend Sam Ezugwu, co founder and music director of the Amemuso Choir where Nwangene sang, described her as a gifted performer with a promising future. He said she had been preparing for her first solo concert later this year and was also a trained architect.
Another friend, Hillary Obinna, said Nwangene had been asleep when the bite occurred, adding that the incident shocked everyone who knew her.
After being bitten, she initially sought treatment at a nearby clinic, which reportedly lacked antivenom. She was then transferred to a hospital, where her condition worsened.
Ezugwu said she was conscious but unable to speak when he arrived, communicating only through hand gestures while struggling to breathe. He said efforts were made to locate additional antivenom, but she died before it could be administered.
Hospital officials later rejected claims that treatment had been inadequate, stating that medical staff provided immediate care, including antivenom, oxygen support and resuscitation efforts. They said her condition deteriorated rapidly due to severe complications from the bite and that attempts to revive her were unsuccessful.
Nwangene’s death has reignited debate in Nigeria over the state of healthcare services and patient safety, following a series of high profile cases that have drawn public anger. Authorities have acknowledged longstanding systemic challenges and announced steps aimed at improving clinical governance.
While snake bites are more commonly associated with rural areas, many Nigerians have expressed shock that such a death occurred in an affluent part of the capital.
According to global health bodies, venomous snake bites remain a neglected public health issue across much of Africa. Hundreds of thousands of people are bitten each year, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths, with shortages of antivenom, high costs, and poor storage conditions compounding the crisis.