Ifunanya Nwangene (26), a Nigerian singer and former The Voice Nigeria contestant also known by her stage name “NANYAH,” died on January 31, 2026, after being bitten by a venomous snake while she slept in her home in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital. She was a rising artist and member of the Amemuso Choir, preparing for expanded music projects at the time of her death.
According to accounts from friends and choir associates, the snake bite occurred early in the morning, and two snakes, one described as a cobra, were later found and captured in her residence by animal control.
After the bite, Nwangene sought urgent medical help, first at a nearby clinic, which reportedly did not have antivenom on site. She was then transferred to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi for further treatment. At FMC, staff administered one dose of snake antivenom upon her arrival, but she was reported to require a second for full treatment.
Sam Ezugwu, music director of the Amemuso Choir, stated that he was informed FMC had only one of the two required doses of antivenom and that he attempted to procure the second dose from an external pharmacy. However, Nwangene’s condition deteriorated and she was pronounced dead around 12:20 pm before the second dose could be administered.
Following social media and public discourse questioning whether insufficient antivenom contributed to her death, FMC management issued a statement denying claims of antivenom shortage or inadequate care. The hospital stated that its medical team responded promptly and provided “immediate and appropriate treatment,” including the administration of snake antivenom, intravenous fluids, oxygen, and emergency protocols upon her arrival. The statement attributed her death to “severe neurotoxic complications” from the snake bite rather than a lack of treatment resources.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) also issued clarifications amid concerns over emergency healthcare and treatment access, insisting that antivenom supplies are available in government-owned hospitals and health centres across the territory and were not lacking. The FCTA noted that antivenom procurement and storage are managed centrally and used for treating snakebites in the region, highlighting adherence to clinical care standards. They advised residents to treat all snake bites as medical emergencies requiring prompt care and urged caution against unsafe first-aid practices.
The FCTA additionally pledged to strengthen emergency response systems, including ambulances and preventive measures for snakebite incidents, stressing the importance of early care and protocol adherence across health facilities.
Snakebite envenoming is a recognized medical emergency caused by venom entering the body through a bite from a venomous snake. Venom can contain neurotoxins, hemotoxins, or cytotoxins, depending on the species, and can affect nerve function, blood clotting, or tissue integrity, leading to symptoms such as paralysis, respiratory distress, swelling, and organ dysfunction. Prompt administration of appropriate antivenom is critical in neutralizing circulating venom and improving outcomes, ideally before toxins bind irreversibly to tissues. Delays in receiving antivenom or insufficient doses can worsen prognosis.
The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies snakebite envenoming as a neglected tropical condition and recommends timely access to effective antivenoms as a key component of first-line treatment.1
Nwangene’s death has reignited public discussion in Nigeria about emergency medical response capacity, the availability of life-saving treatments such as antivenom, and the need for healthcare infrastructure improvements. Some community voices on social platforms emphasised perceived treatment delays or drug shortages, while others focused on broader health system challenges in managing venomous snakebite cases.
The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) used the incident to call for freely available antivenom supplies and local production capacity to reduce preventable snakebite deaths, noting that thousands of Nigerians continue to suffer and die annually from such injuries.
Ifunanya Nwangene’s death from a snake bite illustrates the acute medical demands associated with venomous snakebites and highlights ongoing public health conversations about emergency care readiness and antivenom accessibility in Nigeria. While official statements confirm that health facilities responded with available treatments, public debate continues regarding systemic challenges in rapid treatment delivery and drug availability for snakebite envenoming.
Reference
Elsevier. n.d. “Snake Antivenom.” ScienceDirect Topics. Accessed February 5, 2026. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/biochemistry-genetics-and-molecular-biology/snake-antivenom.
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