Snakebite Tragedy: Abuja Catholics Mourn Singer Ifunanya

The Catholic community in Abuja has been thrown into deep mourning following the death of 25-year-old Nigerian singer, Ifunanya Nwangene, popularly known by her stage name, Nanyah.

The late singer, who was known for her classical, jazz, RnB and soul music, was a worshipper at the Guardian Angel Catholic Police Chapel, Lugbe, Abuja.

LEADERSHIP gathered that Ifunanya died in the early morning of Saturday after a snakebite in her house located at Trade More Estate, Lugbe, Abuja.

Following the bite, Nanyah reportedly made desperate efforts to save her life. She was said to have rushed herself to more than one hospital in search of urgent medical attention.

However, she was allegedly turned away or left unattended due to the unavailability of anti-venom at the health facilities she visited. Friends and close associates disclosed that this was not the first time a snake had been sighted in or around her residence.

On Sunday, during a solemn service at the Guardian Angel Catholic Police Chapel, the grief-stricken Catholic community gathered to honour her life and legacy.

In his sermon, Fr. Theophilus Udie spoke on the Beatitudes and the Christian understanding of suffering, hope, and eternal life.

Fr Udie explained that the Church’s liturgy celebrates the victory of Christ over pain, strain, alienation and affliction, noting that the Beatitudes summarise the core values of the Kingdom of God.

He reminded the congregation that human existence and the teachings of Scripture are fundamentally rooted in these principles, which call believers to righteousness, love and service.

“Today, the entire Church is thrown into mourning. There is silence, there is stillness, there is a cloud of darkness that remains in the spirit of man.

“Because one of our illustrious daughters, Ifunaya, has been taken out from the earth to reunite with her maker. And the life and the legacies that she lived are a lesson driven from Beatitude.”

The priest also used the moment for personal reflection, posing a question to himself and the congregation about what would be remembered of them when they are gone.