A cobra slithered into Nigerian singer Ifunanya Nwangele’s bedroom, delivering a deadly bite that ended her life on January 31, 2026. The 26-year-old Abuja resident, stage name Nnyah, succumbed despite hospital treatment—because antivenom wasn’t there. This shocking lapse has fueled worldwide calls for reform in snakebite care.
Far beyond one artist’s tragedy, Ifunanya’s passing reveals a staggering statistic: snakebites kill up to 138,000 people yearly, per WHO data. Over 5 million bites occur globally, affecting the poor hardest. Survivors often face amputation or permanent harm, with underreporting masking the true toll.
Nwangele, a 2021 ‘The Voice Nigeria’ contestant, was planning a major solo show. Her final moments: awakening to venom in her wrist from a slate-colored serpent. Rescuers discovered two snakes nearby, underscoring urban snake risks in Nigeria’s 29-species habitat, where venomous ones dominate.
Hospitals in Abuja lacked the life-saving serum, echoing broader shortages in Africa and Asia. High costs, poor distribution, and cultural preferences for folk remedies exacerbate the problem, wasting precious hours. WHO insists most deaths are avoidable with prompt antivenom, yet funding for 2030 reduction goals falters.
Experts decry snakebite as an ‘invisible’ tropical scourge. Ifunanya’s family highlighted the ordeal online, amplifying voices for change. This isn’t just a Nigerian issue—it’s a call for international investment in production, storage, and training.
As tributes pour in for the talented vocalist, her story urges policymakers to act. Enhanced surveillance, affordable antivenoms, and education could transform outcomes. Ifunanya’s legacy might just coil into a force that crushes this deadly menace.
