The death of a 26-year-old soprano singer in Nigeria’s capital has sparked grief and safety concerns after residents linked the tragedy to a canal running behind her residential estate.
Ifunaya Lucy Nwagene, a member of the Amemuso Choir and a native of Enugu State, was widely known among friends and colleagues for her calm demeanor and powerful singing voice. Her death has left neighbors and choir members mourning and searching for answers.
When reporters visited her apartment in Abuja, the residence was locked and quiet, with a security guard stationed at the estate. Behind the building, a large open canal runs along the perimeter fence — an area residents believe may have contributed to her death.
A neighbor, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said reptiles are commonly sighted around the canal and suggested that a snake may have entered Nwagene’s apartment.
“Whatever is coming out is from the canal. That is where reptiles come from,” the neighbor said, adding that residents suspect a cobra may have entered through an opening and bitten the singer while she slept.
The neighbor described Nwagene as a peaceful person who lived alone and warned about the dangers of snake venom.
The estate’s gatekeeper, identified only as Adams, said fumigation in the area is handled by individual homeowners rather than coordinated estate-wide measures. He also pointed to structural vulnerabilities that could allow reptiles into homes, including cracks in the perimeter fence, open drainage pipes and spaces under gates.
“I don’t know if any government officials have visited, but as far as I know, none have come this week,” Adams said, adding that the singer’s belongings remained inside her apartment.
A walk around the estate revealed visible cracks and holes along sections of the perimeter fence, which residents say could allow reptiles to move between the canal and residential areas.
Sam C. Ezugwu, director of the Amemuso Choir, described Nwagene’s death as devastating, calling her one of the group’s most talented members.
“She was one of our best, arguably the best,” Ezugwu said in a telephone interview. “We are grieving seriously. It is hard to accept that she is gone.”
He said Nwagene joined the choir in November 2020 and quickly became one of its standout performers, with several projects planned for her this year.
Friends, neighbors and colleagues continue to mourn her death as questions grow about estate safety, canal management, fumigation practices and emergency response measures in the area.
