Father of Late Singer Nanyah Breaks Silence on Tragic Snakebite Death
The father of rising Nigerian singer Ifunanya Nwangene, popularly known as Nanyah, has publicly spoken for the first time since his daughter's tragic death from a snakebite. Christopher Nwangene shared emotional details about the final moments of his daughter's life, including the last three words she spoke to him before passing away.
The Fateful Morning Call and Hospital Ordeal
In an exclusive interview with BBC Igbo, Nwangene recounted receiving a devastating phone call from his daughter at 9:15 AM on the day of her death. "She called me to say she had been bitten by a snake while sleeping at her residence," the heartbroken father revealed. "I immediately shouted and asked where she was."
Nanyah explained she had already visited two medical facilities that both lacked anti-venom treatment for snakebites before arriving at the Federal Medical Centre. According to her father's account, she told him: "When I went to the first hospital, they told me they didn't have anti-venom for snake bite. I went to the second one and they said they also didn't have anti-venom. Someone then told me to go to FMC."
The Final Moments and Last Words
Nwangene immediately sent his brother to meet Nanyah at the Federal Medical Centre. When his brother arrived, he found the 26-year-old singer sitting in a chair with an intravenous drip in her hand. "A few minutes later, I called my daughter," the father continued, his voice heavy with emotion.
During that final phone conversation, Nanyah uttered three heartbreaking words that would be her last: "Daddy, I cannot breathe." When her father asked what was happening, she responded, "I don't know," before the line went silent. Those were the final words Christopher Nwangene would ever hear from his daughter.
Community Reactions and Related Stories
The tragic story has sparked widespread emotional reactions across social media platforms. Instagram user chudon.bethel commented: "Her dad's part took tears out from me, may God keep consoling this family." Another user, glamnene, added: "Eternal rest grant unto Ifunanya Nwagene O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon her. May her soul rest in peace. Amen."
In related developments, a Catholic priest who knew Nanyah personally shared that he had a strange dream about the singer hours after her death on January 31, 2026. The priest also revealed conversations he had with Nanyah just two days before the tragic incident occurred.
Additionally, three Nigerians who previously survived snakebites without anti-venom treatment have come forward to share their survival stories, highlighting the ongoing challenges with snakebite treatment accessibility in certain regions.
The death of Nanyah has brought renewed attention to several critical issues:
- The availability of anti-venom treatments in Nigerian hospitals
- Emergency response protocols for snakebite victims
- The emotional toll on families who lose loved ones to preventable tragedies
- Public awareness about snake safety in residential areas
Christopher Nwangene's decision to speak publicly about his daughter's final moments provides a poignant glimpse into the human cost of medical resource shortages and the profound grief experienced by families affected by sudden tragedies. The music industry has lost a promising talent, while a father mourns the devastating loss of his daughter under circumstances that might have been preventable with timely medical intervention.
