Abuja mourns rising singer Ifunanya Nwangene, 26, after reported snakebite tragedy

Ifunanya

By AbujaCity.com | Feb 2026

The Abuja creative community is mourning the sudden death of Ifunanya Nwangene, a 26-year-old singer whose passing has also reignited a hard conversation Nigerians keep returning to: how prepared are our emergency systems for fast-moving, life-or-death cases? (Punch Newspapers)

Who she was

Ifunanya was known as a soprano with the Amemuso Choir and gained wider recognition from her appearance on The Voice Nigeria—a platform that introduced her voice to audiences beyond the capital. Friends and collaborators have described her as a rising talent on the verge of bigger things. (EW.com)

What happened

Accounts shared by colleagues and media reports say Ifunanya was bitten by a snake at her residence while asleep, then sought urgent medical help. Reporting by PUNCH says she first went to a private facility in Lugbe—identified as Divine Health at Trademore—where antivenom was reportedly unavailable, before trying to reach a tertiary facility. (Punch Newspapers)

In a separate account to TheCable, a choir representative said she later arrived at the Federal Medical Centre and that two doses of antivenom were said to be needed, with efforts underway to source the second dose. He said she died around 12:20 p.m. (TheCable)

Hospital response and the antivenom debate

As public anger spread online—largely centered on antivenom availability—Federal Medical Centre, Abuja issued a response rejecting claims of negligence and stating that care was provided promptly, including resuscitation, oxygen support, IV fluids, and administration of polyvalent snake antivenom. The hospital said the patient suffered severe neurotoxic complications and deteriorated before transfer to ICU. (TheCable Lifestyle)

This is the painful tension in many Nigerian breaking stories: multiple firsthand accounts can exist at the same time, while official statements urge the public to wait for verified facts. For now, what is clear is that a young woman is gone—and a city is grieving. (TheCable Lifestyle)

Why this hit Abuja so hard

Snakebites are often discussed as a “rural” issue, yet this incident—reported within the capital—has reminded residents that emergencies don’t respect geography or status. It has also highlighted how, in critical cases, minutes matter: transport delays, referrals, and medication availability can all compound outcomes. (Punch Newspapers)

Snakebite first aid: what to do (and what not to do)

If there’s one takeaway worth amplifying in the middle of grief, it’s this: don’t add harm to harm. Global health guidance strongly warns against common “street remedies” that can worsen outcomes.

Do:

• Keep the person calm and limit movement (movement can speed venom spread).

• Immobilize/splint the affected limb and get to a hospital fast. (Facebook)

Don’t:

• Don’t use tourniquets/ligatures, don’t cut the wound, don’t try to suck venom out.

• Avoid herbal concoctions or other unproven methods that can delay real care. (World Health Organization)

(This is general first-aid info, not a substitute for professional medical care.)

A final note from AbujaCity.com

We extend condolences to Ifunanya’s family, friends, and everyone in the Abuja music scene who knew her personally or through her voice.

We’ll keep watching for verified updates—especially any official clarifications that help the public understand exactly what happened, what systems worked, what failed, and what should change so fewer families face this kind of loss again. (TheCable Lifestyle)