The untimely death of 26-year-old Nigerian singer Ifunanya Nwangele has ignited global outrage and grief. On January 31, 2026, the rising star, known professionally as Nnyah, was bitten by a cobra while sleeping in her Abuja apartment. Despite rushed medical attention, the absence of antivenom proved fatal, turning a preventable tragedy into international headlines.
Ifunanya’s story transcends personal loss. It spotlights a hidden global health crisis: snakebites. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates 5.4 million bites annually, with 2.7 million envenomations leading to 81,000 to 138,000 deaths. Another 400,000 survivors endure lifelong disabilities, amputations, or chronic illnesses. Many cases go unreported, especially in rural Africa and Asia.
The singer had appeared on ‘The Voice Nigeria’ in 2021 and was gearing up for her debut solo concert by year’s end. Friends recall her vibrant energy and promising career, now cruelly cut short. She woke around 8:30 AM to a gray snake striking her wrist. Two snakes were later found in her flat, including a mid-sized cobra in her bedroom.
Nigeria hosts 29 snake species, 41% venomous. At the first hospital, no antivenom was available, a common issue in the region. WHO classifies snakebite as a neglected tropical disease, stressing that timely, effective antivenom—listed as an essential medicine—could prevent most fatalities.
Campaigners warn that UN targets to halve snakebite deaths and disabilities by 2030 are at risk due to insufficient funding. In many areas, cultural reliance on traditional healers delays critical care, allowing venom to spread unchecked. Ifunanya’s brother shared on social media the desperate hospital search that came too late.
This heartbreaking incident demands urgent action: better antivenom supply chains, rural access, and awareness. Governments and global health bodies must prioritize this ‘forgotten killer’ to spare others Ifunanya’s fate. Her dreams may have ended, but her death could spark the change needed to save millions.