Pest Control Expert Identifies Snake-Prone Areas in Abuja, Lagos After Singer Nanyah’s Death (Full List)

A pest control expert has advised residents of Abuja, Lagos and other urban centres to take practical steps to reduce the risk of snake encounters, following the death of 25-year-old Abuja-based singer Ifunanya Lucy Nwagene, known as Nanyah.

Nwagene died at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abuja, after she was bitten by a snake inside her apartment in Lugbe.

After the incident, a snake handler was invited to inspect the residence. Sam C. Ezugwu, Director of the Amemuso Choir where Nwagene was a member, said a medium-sized cobra was found in her room, another smaller snake near her doormat, and a third in a nearby compound.

In a public notice on Friday, pest control specialist Francis Nwapa said the incident had unsettled many residents but urged people to respond with caution rather than fear.

He explained that certain environmental conditions make homes and neighbourhoods more attractive to snakes. These include overgrown vegetation, open refuse that attracts rodents, blocked drainages, flooding, waterlogged areas, abandoned structures, wood piles and open ceilings that provide shelter.

Nwapa noted that snakes are typically defensive and that panic can increase the risk of injury. He advised residents to keep a safe distance from any snake sighting, secure the area and avoid attempting to kill or chase the animal.

He identified several snake-prone locations in Abuja, including Gwagwalada, Kuje, Kwali, Abaji, the Bwari axis, Mpape, Jabi, Lugbe, the outskirts of Karu, and communities near rocks, hills, farmlands and undeveloped bushland.

In Lagos, he listed Makoko, Iwaya, Ilaje, Ajegunle, the Badagry axis, Ikorodu’s riverine communities, Ibeju-Lekki, Epe and Amuwo-Odofin, particularly areas close to lagoons, swamps and undeveloped land.

Nwapa urged residents in such locations, or those noticing frequent reptile activity, to contact licensed pest control professionals for preventive inspection and treatment.

He also called on authorities to improve the capacity of Primary Health Care centres to manage snakebite emergencies and appealed for a resolution to the ongoing strike by junior health workers, noting that delays in treatment can be fatal.

He encouraged residents to remain alert and informed while taking practical steps to reduce environmental risks around their homes.