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Singer's death sparks nationwide grief
Nigeria is mourning the loss of 26-year-old singer Ifunanya Nwangene, who died on Saturday after a cobra bite in her Abuja apartment. Nwangene gained fame on The Voice Nigeria in 2021 and was celebrated for her ability to blend jazz, opera, classical, and soul music.
The incident
Videos circulating on social media show a snake handler removing a cobra from Nwangene's home, with bystanders screaming in panic. Friends said she was asleep when the bite woke her. Two snakes were later found in the apartment.
Nwangene first sought treatment at a local clinic, which lacked antivenom, before being transferred to a hospital. Sam Ezugwu, co-founder of the Amemuso Choir where she sang, said the hospital had only one of the two required antivenoms.
"While they were trying to stabilise her, she could not speak but made hand gestures. She was struggling to breathe."
Sam Ezugwu, friend and choir director
Ezugwu searched for the missing antivenom but returned to find Nwangene had died. The choir later gathered at the hospital, hoping for a miracle.
Hospital denies negligence claims
The Federal Medical Centre in Jabi rejected allegations of inadequate care, stating in a Sunday statement that staff provided "immediate and appropriate treatment," including resuscitation, fluids, oxygen, and polyvalent antivenom.
The hospital said Nwangene's condition deteriorated rapidly before she could be moved to intensive care, and medics were unable to revive her. It defended its team's dedication and quality of care.
Broader healthcare concerns
Nwangene's death has reignited debates about Nigeria's healthcare system, following recent allegations of medical negligence, including the death of novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's 21-month-old son. The health minister acknowledged "systemic challenges" and announced a national task force on patient safety.
While most snakebite victims in Nigeria are from rural areas, Nwangene's death in an upscale Abuja neighborhood has shocked many. The WHO estimates 435,000 to 580,000 snakebites occur annually in Africa, with 30,000 deaths, though the real number may be higher due to underreporting.
Experts cite antivenom shortages, high costs, and storage difficulties-most require refrigeration in areas with unreliable electricity-as key barriers to treatment. Many victims turn to traditional healers, leaving cases unrecorded.
Tributes pour in
Friends remembered Nwangene as a humble, talented, and intelligent artist. Hillary Obinna, a fellow singer, described her as "a very wonderful girl" and said her death left the choir devastated.
Ezugwu revealed she had been planning her first solo concert later this year. A trained architect, Nwangene was also a rising star in Nigeria's music scene.
