Gbenga Adebayo
The tragic passing of Nigerian singer Ifunanya Nwangene, popularly known as Nanyah Music, has left fans in mourning after she succumbed to a snake bite at her Abuja residence. Her brother, Kingsley Nwangene, has shared harrowing details of her final hours.
The young soprano, who rose to fame after her standout performance on The Voice Nigeria, was bitten in the early hours of Saturday morning. Kingsley recounted receiving a call from his sister around 8:30 am as she rushed herself to the hospital.
Nanyah, displaying remarkable presence of mind, had tightly bound her arm to slow the venom’s spread. She first visited Divine Health Hospital in Lugbe but was turned away due to a lack of anti-venom treatment. Undeterred, she arranged transport to Federal Medical Centre, Abuja.
Kingsley remained on the phone with his sister throughout her journey, noting she remained coherent and responsive. Upon arrival, medical staff reportedly conducted lengthy questioning before removing her improvised tourniquet and administering a drip.
Tragically, Nanyah’s condition deteriorated rapidly after treatment began. Her speech became slurred, and she lost consciousness despite the arrival of a family member at the hospital. She passed away shortly after.
Refuting claims of delayed medical attention, Kingsley emphasized his sister’s prompt action and initial stable condition. In an emotional Instagram post, he accused the healthcare system of fatal negligence.
He shared: “Ify called me yesterday morning… at about 8:30 am. She was calm, telling me about the bite as she headed to the hospital. I stayed on the line through everything – her being turned away at Divine Health, her second journey to FMC.
“At FMC, instead of immediate treatment, they wasted time questioning her. Removing her tourniquet was their first mistake. She entered that hospital walking, talking – why did she leave in a body bag?
“The system failed her completely. We shared such beautiful moments last Christmas – our last memories together. This country’s healthcare kills more than it saves.”
Grace Effiong
