Abuja hospital speaks on how singer Ifunaya died during treatment for snake bite

By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja

The management of Federal Medical Centre, (FMC) Jabi has clarified the circumstances that led to the death of Miss Ifunanya Lucy Nwagene, an upcoming Abuja choral muscian during treatment for snake bite.

The 25-year-old fast-rising Nigerian soprano, popularly known as Nanya_Music died after she was bitten by a snake at her Lugbe-Abuja residence on Saturday, January 31.

Nannya 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.

According to various social media posts, 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, FMC Jabi, in a statement on Sunday by Bioku Muftau, its head of clinical services dismissed the claim.

Muftau said said FMC medical staff provided immediate and appropriate treatment, including resuscitation efforts, intravenous fluids, intranasal oxygen, and the administration of polyvalent snake antivenom in the treatment of Nwagene.

But the FMC management added that despite all all efforts to stabilise her condition and transfer her to the Intensive Care Unit for further treatment, Nwagene experienced a sudden deterioration that claimed her life.

The hospital said that Nwagene passed on despite efforts by its team of professionals to provide CPR and other life-saving measures.

“We stand by the quality of care and dedication our team demonstrates daily. The claims of non-availability of anti-snake venom and inadequate response are unfounded and do not reflect the reality of the situation.

“We are committed to transparency and integrity in our practices and will continue to pursue excellence in patient care.

“In light of these events, we encourage our community to engage with credible sources for information and updates rather than relying on social media speculation. We remain available for any further inquiries or clarifications,” the hospital said.

Videos circulating online show a snake catcher holding a cobra believed to have been found inside Ifunaya’s 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 the death of Ifunaya.

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.

See the full statement below

CLARIFICATION ON RECENT EVENTS REGARDING THE CASE OF LATE IFUNANYA LUCY NWANGENE

We wish to address the circulating discussion on social media concerning the unfortunate case of Ms. Ifunanya Lucy Nwagene, who tragically passed away due to neurotoxic complications following a snake bite on January 31, 2026.

First and foremost, we express our deepest condolences to the Nwagene family during this incredibly difficult time. The loss of a loved one is never easy, and our thoughts are with them.

We want to clarify that the management team at Federal Medical Centre, Abuja acted promptly and with the utmost care upon Ms. Nwagene’s arrival. Our medical staff provided immediate and appropriate treatment, including resuscitation efforts, intravenous fluids, intranasal oxygen, and the administration of polyvalent snake antivenom.

After a thorough but quick evaluation, it was clear that Ms. Nwagene suffered severe neurotoxic complications from the snake bite. Despite all efforts to stabilise her condition and transfer her to the Intensive Care Unit for further treatment, she experienced a sudden deterioration just before the transfer. Our team of professionals worked diligently to provide CPR and other life-saving measures; however, despite these efforts, we were unable to revive her.

We stand by the quality of care and dedication our team demonstrates daily. The claims of non-availability of anti-snake venom and inadequate response are unfounded and do not reflect the reality of the situation. We are committed to transparency and integrity in our practices and will continue to pursue excellence in patient care.

In light of these events, we encourage our community to engage with credible sources for information and updates rather than relying on social media speculation. We remain available for any further inquiries or clarifications.

Thank you for your understanding.

DR. BIOKU MUFTAU,
Head of Clinical Service
Federal Medical Centre, Jabi

Updated