The father of singer Ifunanya Nwangene, popularly known as Nanyah, has spoken about his daughter’s final moments after she died from complications following a snake bite.
Speaking during an interview with BBC Igbo, her father, Christopher Nwangene, explained how the tragic incident unfolded.
He recalled the conversation he had with her shortly after the incident, saying, “She called me around 9:15am to tell me she had been bitten by a snake. I immediately asked her where she was and what the doctors were saying about her condition.
“I quickly contacted my brother and asked him to rush to the hospital. A few minutes later, I called her again. She told me, ‘Daddy, I cannot breathe.’ When I asked her what was happening, she said, ‘I don’t know.’”
Nanyah died on January 31, after she was bitten by a snake at her residence in Abuja. She was taken to the hospital but did not survive despite efforts to save her life.
Ifunanya gained wider attention after appearing on season three of The Voice Nigeria. She was also known for her work in church music circles and as a member of the Amemuso Choir.
Reports indicated that she initially received treatment at a nearby clinic before being referred to the Federal Medical Centre, Abuja due to the absence of anti venom.
In a statement, the FMC confirmed that she was brought in critical condition and was attended to by medical personnel. According to the management, necessary interventions were carried out, including the administration of anti-venom after it was sourced, but her condition deteriorated and she later died.
Her death has drawn reactions from colleagues and fans, while also raising concern about access to anti-venom and emergency care for snakebite victims in Nigeria. Nanyah was 26.
