Late Miss Ifunanya

The Federal Medical Centre, Abuja, has denied allegations of negligence following the death of Abuja-based singer, Ifunanya Nwagene, popularly known as Nanyah, who died after suffering complications from a snake bite.

The hospital said its medical team made extensive efforts to save her life but was ultimately unsuccessful.

Nwagene, a soprano with the Amemuso Choir, died on Saturday at the FMC.

Her death was confirmed on Sunday afternoon in a statement issued by the choir and signed by its Music Director, Sam Ezugwu.

According to the statement, the singer passed away following complications arising from a snake bite.

Describing her death as a huge loss to Abuja’s growing music community, the choir said Nwagene was a rising talent on the brink of wider recognition.

“A rising star, Ifunanya was on the cusp of sharing her incredible talent with the world.

“Her voice and spirit will be deeply missed,” the statement read.

In a separate press release issued on Sunday evening, the management of FMC, Abuja, expressed condolences to the deceased’s family, noting that the loss of a loved one is deeply painful and extending its sympathies during the difficult time.

The hospital explained that its medical personnel responded promptly when Nwagene was brought in, administering immediate and appropriate care.

“Our medical staff provided immediate and appropriate treatment, including resuscitation efforts, intravenous fluids, intranasal oxygen, and the administration of polyvalent snake antivenom,” the release stated.

FMC management disclosed that the singer suffered severe neurotoxic complications as a result of the snake bite.

It said that following a rapid but comprehensive assessment, efforts were made to stabilise her condition and prepare her for transfer to the Intensive Care Unit, but her health deteriorated suddenly before the transfer could be completed.

“After a thorough but quick evaluation, it was clear that Ms Nwagene suffered severe neurotoxic complications from the snake bite.

“Despite all efforts to stabilise her condition and transfer her to the Intensive Care Unit for further treatment, she experienced a sudden deterioration just before the transfer.

“Our team of professionals worked diligently to provide CPR and other life-saving measures; however, despite these efforts, we were unable to revive her,” the statement explained.

The hospital also responded to claims circulating on social media alleging the absence of anti-snake venom and an inadequate medical response, dismissing the allegations as false.

“The claims of non-availability of anti-snake venom and inadequate response are unfounded and do not reflect the reality of the situation. We are committed to transparency and integrity in our practices and will continue to pursue excellence in patient care,” FMC said.

The management of the Federal Medical Centre, Abuja, reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and quality healthcare delivery, urging members of the public to rely on verified information rather than social media speculation.

It added that the hospital remained open to further inquiries and clarification.

Opinion of Roosevelt Nnamdi Anigbo

Every administration inherits a history. Some inherit progress; others inherit ruins.

The administration of His Excellency, Barr. Dr. Peter Ndubisi Mbah, inherited near ruins, silent, neglect, decaying ruins buried beneath asphalt, beneath bureaucracy, beneath years of neglect.

What Governor Peter Mbah met was not merely a challenge of governance; it was the aftermath of a collapsed system, roads gasping for breath, infrastructure groaning under age-long decay, water pipelines fossilized in the earth, security stretched thin, and public trust worn fragile.

This was not a government handed a baton; it was one handed rubble.

With sincerity of purpose and an almost impatient zeal for renewal, Governor Mbah stepped in, perhaps unaware, at first, of how deeply the rot had eaten into the bones of Enugu’s water system.

Yet leadership, in its truest form, is not about knowing all things beforehand; it is about confronting realities boldly when they reveal themselves. And confront them he did.

In one decisive sweep, this administration took on roads, water, education, environment, transportation, and security, not sequentially, not cautiously, but simultaneously. Philosophy teaches us that only those willing to embrace complexity can birth transformation.

Within just 24 months, this government has delivered 70 to 80 percent completion across multiple critical sectors. Even in water, arguably the most decayed of all, tremendous, tangible progress has been made.

Let us speak plainly:
To claim that this administration has done nothing about water is not criticism, it is intellectual dishonesty.
Across Enugu, the earth itself bears witness.

From Subway on Ogui Road to Okpara Avenue, OnuAsata to Presidential road, Kenyatta via Timber areas, Aria Road over lapping Camp and Akwata areas, from Main Market corridors, from ShopRite through Trans-Ekulu Bridge, from Abakpa to Agbani Road, Camp GRA and beyond, colossal trenches were opened by Heavy earth-moving machines dug deep into the crust of history, uprooting decades-old, corroded pipes, replacing them with modern water infrastructure, even while new roads were being laid above them, simultaneously.

WHO IS SAYING MBAH IS NOT A GAME CHANGER?

This is not cosmetic governance.
This is surgery.
Philosophy reminds us that renovating an ancient structure often reveals decay unseen by the naked eyes.

The Enugu water crisis is like restoring a colossal old building, its walls may still stand, but its foundations crumble in silence. Or like executing a project in the riverine Niger Delta, where every step forward unveils a new resistance, waterlogged soil, compensation disputes, sabotage, and unseen obstacles.
There are problems you cannot diagnose until you dare to act.

Governor Mbah made a bold promise, 180 days, not out of recklessness, but out of an urgent desire to reset Enugu’s destiny. He was in a hurry because decay does not wait, and poverty has no patience.

That timeline collided with a rot that had been fermenting for decades, aided by systemic sabotage and vested interests, those who profit from water scarcity: tanker operators, water vendors, and entrenched corruption feeding on public suffering.
This is where the human face of the crisis must be seen.

Criticism is essential in democracy, but criticism without appraisal is injustice. Before we condemn, let us measure. Before we shout failure, let us acknowledge effort. Even philosophy insists that judgment must follow understanding.

Governor Peter Mbah did not fold his arms.
He did not look away.
He dug, literally and metaphorically, into the heart of the problem.

Yes, water has not flowed everywhere yet. But history teaches us that the longest rot resists the fastest reform. What matters is direction, commitment, and visible action. On these counts, this administration stands firm.

Peter Mbah has not failed Ndi Enugu.
What we are witnessing is the weight of inherited decay meeting the force of deliberate reform.

This administration deserves patience, fair judgment, and yes, accolades. The water crisis is overwhelming, but it is not unsolvable. And this government is poised, resolute and unrelenting, to bring it to a manageable and lasting end.

Progress is not always loud. Sometimes, it is buried in trenches, waiting for time, truth, and fairness to reveal it.

These are my sincere thoughts. I also believe I bared the mind of so many.

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has announced it will investigate a viral video showing notorious terror kingpin Ifeanyi Eze, popularly known as Gentle De Yahoo, alive and free—despite earlier reports of his capture by the Nigerian military.

The video, which has circulated widely on social media, shows Mr. Eze celebrating his survival and claiming he had been in Akwa Ibom State receiving medical treatment after a poisoning incident involving him and his followers.

In the clip, he also threatened individuals he accused of betraying him.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, Major General Michael Onoja, Director of Defence Media Operations, noted that the clip could be artificially generated using AI, adding, “In this current dispensation of AI, it is possible to create anything to destabilize and cause panic within society.”

He stressed, however, that the military would take immediate action if the kingpin’s return is confirmed.

“Notwithstanding, we will initiate necessary action with relevant security agencies to confirm if it is truly him,” Onoja said.

Ifeanyi Eze hails from Imo State, South-east Nigeria, and has been linked to deadly attacks in Okigwe Local Government Area, including the murder of three of his followers.

He is reportedly a commander of the Biafra Liberation Army, a faction associated with Simon Ekpa’s Autopilot wing of IPOB.

Mr. Ekpa was recently jailed for terrorism in Finland.

Earlier reports had indicated that Mr. Eze may have been killed during a Nigerian military raid in Aku-Ihube, Okigwe LGA, in September 2025, though his fate remained unclear.

A 25-year-old Nigerian singer, Ifunanya Nwangene, popularly known as Nanyah, has died after suffering a snakebite at her residence in Abuja, with reports indicating that the absence of anti-venom in hospitals contributed to her death.

Nanyah, an Abuja-based classical, jazz, RnB and soul singer, was reportedly bitten by a snake in the early hours of the morning at her home.

Following the incident, she made desperate efforts to save her life by seeking urgent medical care.

Sources said the singer rushed herself to at least two hospitals in Abuja but was unable to receive the required treatment due to the unavailability of anti-venom.

She was reportedly either turned away or left unattended as medical personnel confirmed that the life-saving drug was not in stock.

“She did everything she could to survive,” a source familiar with the incident said.

“She went from one hospital to another, but there was no anti-venom.”

Reports also indicated that snakes had previously been sighted in and around the late singer’s residence, though it remains unclear whether any preventive measures had been taken.

News of her death has sparked widespread reactions on social media, with many Nigerians expressing shock, grief and outrage.

While some online users speculated about spiritual or supernatural causes, no evidence has been provided to support such claims.

As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official statement from health authorities or the police, and it remains uncertain whether a formal investigation has been launched.

Friends and fans described Nanyah as a talented and promising artiste whose music career was steadily gaining momentum.

No fewer than 80 worshippers who escaped during a bandit attack on Kurmin Wali community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State have returned to their homes after spending nearly two weeks in neighbouring villages.

The Village Head of Kurmin Wali, Ishaku Dan’azumi, confirmed the development on Sunday, explaining that the worshippers fled during the attack and sought refuge in nearby communities for safety.

Dan’azumi said initial reports suggested that about 177 worshippers were abducted when armed men stormed the community during a worship session.

However, further verification revealed that 80 of them managed to escape, while 86 others remain in captivity.

He appealed to the Federal Government and the military to intensify efforts to rescue those still being held by the bandits, noting that families of the abducted victims are experiencing severe emotional trauma.

“We are worried that some people are politicising our suffering, even as families are passing through deep pain,” he said. “We are appealing for urgent action to secure the safe release of the remaining victims.”

A military source attributed the return of the escaped worshippers to sustained security operations targeting bandit hideouts within Kajuru and surrounding forest areas.

The source added that intensified patrols have made it possible for some displaced residents to cautiously return home.

Details surrounding how the worshippers escaped remain unclear, as well as the conditions of those still in captivity.

The development comes amid renewed violence in the area.

On Tuesday, bandits reportedly attacked Maikori community in Maro Ward of Kajuru Local Government Area, killing three residents and further heightening tension.

Residents and community leaders have renewed calls for a stronger and permanent security presence in Kajuru, which has remained a hotspot for bandit attacks over the years.

As of the time of filing this report, the Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, had not responded to calls or messages seeking comment.

More details later…