A former The Voice singer has tragically died after getting bitten by a venomous snake while sleeping. Ifunanya Nwangene famously appeared on The Voice Nigeria.
She had been sleeping when a cobra slithered into her home and bit the singer while she slept. "It is a cobra!" bystanders yelled after the celebrity was bitten. A close friend, Sam Ezugwu, the co-founder and music director of the Amemuso Choir, described what happened afterwards. Sam said the Voice singer sought treatment at a clinic before going to a nearby hospital
Ezugwu claimed the hospital lacked all of the necessary antivenoms to save the singer's life.
"While they were trying to stabilise her, she could not speak, but she could make hand gestures. She was struggling to breathe," he added. According to Ezugwu, he drove around trying to find the missing antivenom. The Voice singer died while he was away.
However, in a statement, the hospital staff painted a different story. They claimed they had the necessary antivenom and did everything that they could.
'The Voice' Singer Dies
"Our medical staff provided immediate and appropriate treatment, including resuscitation efforts, intravenous fluids, intranasal oxygen, and the administration of polyvalent snake antivenom," it said. "Despite all efforts to stabilise her condition and transfer her to the ICU for further treatment, she experienced a sudden deterioration just before the transfer."
The statement continued, "Our team of professionals worked diligently to provide CPR and other life-saving measures; however, despite these efforts, we were unable to revive her."
They disagreed with the narrative as presented by the singer's friend.
"The claims of non-availability of anti-snake venom and inadequate response are unfounded and do not reflect the reality of the situation," the statement said. "We are committed to transparency and integrity in our practices and will continue to pursue excellence in patient care."
Meanwhile, the Amemuso Choir mourned the loss of the singer.
"Amemuso Choir regret to announce the sudden demise of our beloved soprano, Ifunanya Nwangene, who passed away yesterday, 31 January 2026, at the Federal Medical Centre due to a snake bite," the statement read.
