The body of Abuja-based singer, Ifunanya Nwangene, who died following a snake bite, has been transported to her father in Enugu State, the Abuja Metropolitan Music Society Choir has confirmed.
In a detailed statement released on Monday and signed by its director, Sam Ezugwu, the choir provided a chronological account of events leading to the singer’s death, amid growing public debate over the availability of antivenom and allegations of medical negligence.
According to the statement, the emergency began at 10:13am on Saturday when a choir member, identified as Stephanie, sent a distress message to the Amemuso Choir WhatsApp group seeking urgent help around Jabi and the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abuja.
“I immediately called her to find out what was wrong, and she told me that Ifunanya had been bitten by a snake,” Ezugwu said.
He explained that emergency arrangements were swiftly made, with some choir members proceeding directly to FMC while others coordinated support.
Upon arrival at the hospital, Ezugwu said doctors were already attending to Nwangene, who was placed on oxygen and struggling to breathe.
“She could not speak but tried to communicate through hand gestures,” the statement noted.
A doctor at the emergency ward reportedly confirmed that the singer arrived at the hospital on her own and disclosed that she had been bitten by a grey snake. Her uncle, Joseph, was also present at the hospital.
Nwangene was immediately placed on a drip and administered antivenom along with other treatments. However, doctors later informed the team that additional medication, including Neostigmine, was urgently needed, as the hospital’s supply had been exhausted.
Ezugwu said he and another choir member, Vincent, quickly left to purchase the medication from a nearby pharmacy.
“As we were leaving the emergency ward, I noticed that Ifunanya appeared to no longer be breathing. However, doctors were still checking her vital signs, so I left with cautious hope,” he said.
While returning to FMC, the duo were informed that resuscitation efforts had begun. Shortly after, they received confirmation that the singer had been pronounced dead.
“We returned to find Ifunanya lifeless on the bed. We cried, prayed and screamed, but she could no longer hear us,” the statement added.
Further inquiries revealed that Nwangene was bitten on the wrist while sleeping in her room at Lugbe, Abuja, between 8:00am and 9:00am.
Neighbours reportedly tied her hand to slow the spread of venom and attempted to rush her to the hospital. However, a neighbour’s vehicle failed to start, forcing her to run about 500 metres to the estate gate before taking a motorcycle to Divine Health Hospital, where she was referred to FMC due to the unavailability of antivenom.
While en route to FMC at about 9:40am, Nwangene reportedly reached out to friends, family members and choir colleagues for help.
Ezugwu said her father, Mr Nwangene, who remained in constant communication, later requested that arrangements be made to transport his daughter’s body to Enugu.
Her remains were subsequently deposited at the mortuary, embalmed, and conveyed by ambulance to Enugu after prayers were offered at Guardian Angel Catholic Chapel, Lugbe, by the Assistant Parish Priest, Fr Stephen Biodun.
Following the incident, a snake handler was engaged to inspect her residence.
“A medium-sized cobra was found inside her room, another smaller snake near her doormat, and a third in a nearby compound. It was concluded that the cobra was responsible for the fatal bite,” the choir stated.
Meanwhile, MetroNews Online had earlier reported that the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) assured residents that antivenom is fully stocked and available in all FCTA-owned hospitals.
The Mandate Secretary of the FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Adedolapo Fasawe, said both polyvalent and multivalent antivenoms are adequately supplied across public health facilities.
Reacting to the allegations, FMC Abuja denied claims of negligence, insisting that all necessary medical interventions were administered.
“Our medical staff provided immediate and appropriate treatment, including resuscitation efforts, intravenous fluids, intranasal oxygen and administration of polyvalent snake antivenom,” the hospital said.
FMC added that the singer suffered severe neurotoxic complications and deteriorated suddenly while being prepared for transfer to the Intensive Care Unit.
Despite intensive resuscitation efforts, the hospital said she could not be revived.
The Amemuso Choir described Nwangene’s death as a devastating loss to Abuja’s music community, adding that burial arrangements would be announced later.
