Nigerian Singer Ifunanya Nwangene Dies After Snakebite
A rising Nigerian singer, Ifunanya Nwangene, also known as Nanyah, died on January 31, 2026, after being bitten by a snake in her Abuja apartment. She was 26 years old.
According to reports, Nwangene was bitten on her wrist at approximately 8:30 am by a grey snake. Two snakes were discovered in her apartment, including a cobra in her bedroom.
Nwangene, a former contestant on The Voice Nigeria in 2021, had been preparing for her first solo concert. Her choir, Amemuso, described her as a rising star “on the cusp of sharing her incredible talent with the world.”
In a final message to friends, Nwangene wrote: “Please come.” She initially sought treatment at one hospital in Abuja where antivenom was unavailable, according to social media posts from her brother. She then received treatment, including polyvalent snake antivenom, at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC).
Sam Ezugwu, director of Amemuso choir, stated that doctors at the FMC requested additional neostigmine and more doses of the antivenom already administered, explaining the hospital had exhausted its supply. While Ezugwu went to purchase the medication, Nwangene died.
“We returned to the hospital to find Ifunanya’s lifeless body on the bed,” Ezugwu said in a statement on the choir’s Facebook page. “We cried, prayed, screamed, but she could no longer hear us.”
Concerns Over Antivenom Availability
Nwangene’s death has sparked debate over the availability of antivenom in Nigerian hospitals. The FMC has denied claims of a lack of appropriate antivenom, stating in a statement that staff provided immediate and appropriate treatment. However, reports indicate shortages of antivenom due to manufacturing problems and quality concerns across Africa.
A recent poll of 904 healthcare workers in Brazil, Nigeria, India, and Indonesia by the Strike Out Snakebite global initiative found that 99% reported challenges with antivenom administration. These challenges included a lack of training, poor infrastructure, inadequate equipment, and shortages of antivenom, with over a third of healthcare workers reporting antivenom shortages.
Global Impact of Snakebites
Snakebites kill one person every five minutes globally, resulting in up to 138,000 deaths annually, and cause permanent disabilities in another 400,000 people. Many cases and deaths are thought to go unrecorded, particularly when victims seek care from traditional healers instead of hospitals.
According to the World Health Organization, most deaths from snakebites are preventable with timely access to safe and effective antivenoms, which are listed as essential medicines.
Elhadj As Sy, chancellor of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and co-chair of the Global Snakebite Taskforce, emphasized the need for political will and investment to address this neglected tropical disease. He stated, “Snakebite must no longer be overlooked or underfunded by the international community. It is time for action – not sympathy, not statements, but action worthy of the scale of this crisis.”
Nigeria has 29 species of snakes, 41% of which are venomous.
