By Nehru Odeh
Fast-rising Nigerian soprano, 25-year-old Ifunanya Nwangene, popularly known as Nanya Music, died after she was bitten by a snake at her Lugbe-Abuja residence on Saturday, January 31.
The news of the death of this singer who sings like a nightingale, has sent shock waves through the country. Before her death Nanya was very popular on several media platforms, especially Tiktok as well as in the country for her unique voice. She had also been invited by top government functionaries to perform at events.
It was alleged that after Nanya had been bitten by the snake, she made frantic efforts to save her life. She drove herself to two different hospitals in Abuja, including Federal Medical Centre, for urgent medical attention, but was told there was no anti-venom at the facilities she visited.
However, according to reports, this was not the first time a snake had been sighted in or around the late singer’s residence.
Videos circulating online show a snake catcher holding a cobra believed to have been found inside her room. In the background, voices can be heard suggesting there may have been more snakes in the house, as the late singer had previously complained of seeing “a grown snake” in her home.
Unconfirmed reports on Facebook further claim that two snakes were eventually discovered in the apartment.
Following the tragic news, members of the Abuja choral and gospel music community have taken to Facebook to mourn her passing. While some described her death as “not ordinary,” many others celebrated her exceptional talent, hailing her as a gifted vocalist with a rich, sonorous voice who was steadily rising toward stardom.
Following news of her death, reactions have continued to trail the incident on social media, with some Nigerians expressing shock and grief, while others speculated about supernatural causes.
Some netizens alleged that the snake attack might be linked to juju or spiritual manipulation, though no evidence has been provided to support such claims.
As of the time of filing this report, no official statement had been released by health authorities or the police regarding the circumstances surrounding her death, and it remains unclear whether an investigation has been opened.
Nanya was described by friends and fans as a young, rising artiste with a growing presence in the local music scene.
Her sudden death has once again drawn attention to Nigeria’s poor emergency response system, particularly the lack of life-saving drugs such as anti-venom in hospitals, even in the Federal Capital Territory.
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