The brother of late Nigerian singer Ifunanya Nwangene, popularly known as Nanyah Music, has shared harrowing details of her final hours following a snake bite at her Abuja home.
The fast-rising vocalist, who gained recognition after appearing on The Voice Nigeria, reportedly suffered the bite on Saturday morning. Her brother, Kingsley Nwangene, said she contacted him around 8:30 a.m., informing him of the incident while she was already on her way to a hospital.
According to Kingsley, Nanyah tied her arm to slow the spread of the venom and went first to Divine Health Hospital in Lugbe, Abuja. On arrival, she was reportedly told the facility lacked anti-venom and could not treat her. She then arranged transport to the Federal Medical Centre in Abuja, with her brother staying on the phone with her throughout the journey.
Kingsley noted that Nanyah was fully conscious and speaking clearly while moving between hospitals. At the Federal Medical Centre, she was admitted into the emergency unit and placed on a drip after the cloth tied around her arm was removed.
Her condition reportedly deteriorated shortly after, as she became dizzy and her speech slurred. Despite the presence of family members and medical staff, Nanyah did not survive.
Kingsley dismissed claims that she arrived late or was unable to communicate, insisting she sought help promptly and remained stable while being transported. He blamed her death on delays and inadequate treatment, describing it as a tragic failure of the healthcare system.
In an emotional Instagram post, he wrote:
“Ify called me yesterday morning… at about 8:30 am. She says, ‘Emy don’t panic but I have just been bitten by a snake I’m on my way to the hospital.’… The first hospital said they didn’t have the anti-venom and could not help her. She was speaking fine with me throughout. When she got to the second hospital… the doctor removed the stuff she tied to avoid the spread of the venom and kept telling her to calm down… She came in by herself, very audible. The hospital failed her and doubled down to lie also about everything. I hate the country so much.”
Nanyah Music’s passing has sparked an outcry over gaps in emergency healthcare services, highlighting challenges faced by patients in critical situations.