A close friend of Abuja-based singer, Ifunanya Nwangene, has narrated how the musician died after suffering a snakebite at her residence in Lugbe, Abuja.

The friend, Kingsley Nwangene, said the singer, popularly known as Nanyah_music and fondly called the “Soprano Queen”, died after she could not get antivenom treatment.

Nanyah reportedly died on Saturday after she was bitten by a cobra in her home. She was 26.

She became popular after appearing on The Voice Nigeria in 2021 and was active in Abuja’s choral and creative music scene.

In an Instagram post, Nwangene said he received a distress call from the singer around 8.30 am on Sunday.

“She said, ‘Emy, don’t panic, but a snake has bitten me. I’m on my way to the hospital,’” he said.

According to him, the singer explained that she had been asleep when she felt a sharp pain. On opening her eyes, she saw a snake in the room.

Nwangene said he focused on ensuring she got medical attention. The singer reportedly booked a rider herself and left for the hospital.

No antivenom

Nwangene said her first stop was Divine Health Hospital at the Trade Fair Mall in Lugbe, where she was told the hospital had no antivenom.

“She then decided to go to another hospital that might have the antivenom,” he said, adding that he remained on the phone with her.

The second hospital was the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, where she arrived at about 10 am.

He said staff at the emergency unit asked routine questions while her condition continued to worsen. According to him, the singer kept asking if anti venom was available.

“She told me they said they would give her a drip,” he said.

Doctors reportedly removed the tourniquet she had tied around her arm and asked her to remain calm.

“She told me, ‘Emy, they have removed the thing I used to tie my hand.’ I felt relieved because she was finally at the hospital. I believed the doctors knew better,” he said.

She later died from the effects of the venom.

Videos shared online later showed a snake catcher handling a large snake allegedly found in the singer’s apartment. Some reports claimed that two snakes were discovered in the house.

Friends also said Nanyah had earlier complained about seeing a large snake in her home.
Former ‘The Voice’ contestant
The singer was known for her soprano voice and her ability to blend classical, jazz, R&B, soul and choral music.

She gained attention through choir performances, social media platforms and her appearance on The Voice Nigeria.

Tributes have continued to pour in, with colleagues and fans describing her as a “joy-giver” with an “angelic voice”.

Body moved to Enugu

The singer’s body has been exhumed and moved to Enugu State, according to a BBC report.

Speaking to the BBC, the leader of the Abuja Metropolitan Music Society Choir, Sam Ezugwu, said the decision was taken by her father.

“Ifunanya’s father personally called for an ambulance and requested that his daughter’s body be brought to Enugu State,” he said.

He added that a family member confirmed the body arrived in Enugu on Sunday and has been deposited at the state mortuary pending burial arrangements.

Outrage over healthcare gaps

The singer’s death has sparked outrage and renewed conversations about snakebite treatment and emergency healthcare in Nigeria.

Health advocates questioned how hospitals in Abuja could lack antivenom, a key requirement for treating snakebites.

Nigeria records an estimated 20,000 snakebite cases annually, with about 2,000 deaths, according to a 2021 State Ministry of Health record.