Nigeria(The COW News Digital)A wave of anger has swept across Nigeria following the death of a young and rising singer who reportedly died after being bitten by a cobra, raising serious questions about the country’s healthcare preparedness and access to life-saving treatment.
The incident occurred in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, where 26-year-old Afanasia Nwangen, an emerging music talent, was bitten by a cobra while she was asleep in her apartment. According to close sources, the snake bit her on the wrist, triggering a medical emergency that would later prove fatal.
Nwangen gained national attention after her appearance on The Voice Nigeria, where her performance of Rihanna’s song Take a Bow earned widespread praise and a growing fan base. Her sudden death has shocked the entertainment industry and devastated her supporters.
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Videos circulating on social media show snake handlers removing a medium-sized cobra from her apartment. Reports suggest that two snakes were captured from the premises, intensifying public concern over urban safety and emergency response systems.
A close friend, Pascal Nworgu, said that Nwangen was first taken to a nearby clinic, but the facility did not have anti-venom available. She was then transferred to the Federal Medical Centre in Jabi. By the time she arrived, her condition had significantly deteriorated. She was reportedly struggling to breathe and could only communicate through gestures.
According to Nworgu, the hospital administered one dose of anti-venom, but additional required doses were unavailable. Hospital authorities have denied claims of negligence, stating that their staff provided immediate and appropriate medical care. Officials said the singer was already suffering from severe neurological complications and her condition worsened rapidly before she could be shifted to the intensive care unit.
Despite the hospital’s response, public reaction has been fierce. Many Nigerians, including celebrities and activists, have taken to social media to criticize the country’s healthcare system, accusing authorities of failing to ensure the availability of essential medicines. Several voices have directly called on the government to take responsibility and prevent similar tragedies.
Health experts note that snakebites remain a serious but often neglected public health issue, particularly in Africa. According to the World Health Organization, around five million people are bitten by snakes globally each year, resulting in nearly 100,000 deaths. In many African countries, the lack of effective and affordable anti-venom continues to cost lives.
The death of Afanasia Nwangen has become a painful symbol of these systemic failures, fueling renewed demands for urgent healthcare reforms across Nigeria.
