The death of singer, Ifunanya Nwagene has triggered widespread reactions from Nigerians, particularly on social media, amid reports that she died after being bitten by a snake in her Abuja residence.
The circumstances surrounding the incident have fueled public debate, with many users expressing shock, grief and concern over household safety, especially in urban areas.
In the wake of the incident, attention has turned to factors that can attract snakes into residential spaces. Below are ten reasons snakes may enter homes:
- They’re trying to escape the heat
Nigeria’s hot weather forces snakes to look for cooler spots. Shady rooms, bathrooms and tiled floors inside houses can feel like a safe retreat from the sun.
- They’re looking for water
When rivers, puddles and gutters dry up, snakes follow moisture. Leaking taps, toilets, bathrooms, and even water stored around the house can attract them.
- Flooding pushes them out
Early rains and sudden flooding can wash out snakes from their burrows. With nowhere else to go, they may end up in nearby homes.
- Overgrown surroundings make it easy
Tall grass, untrimmed bushes and abandoned plots around houses give snakes the cover they need to move around unnoticed — and eventually slip indoors.
- Rats and lizards invite them
Snakes go where food is. If your house has rats, mice, frogs or lizards, snakes may follow.
- Small openings are enough
Snakes don’t need big doors. Gaps under doors, cracked walls, broken windows or open drains are more than enough for them to get inside.
- Clutter gives them hiding places
Stacks of firewood, cartons, old furniture or building materials create quiet, dark spots that snakes love to hide in.
- Living close to farms or bush areas
Homes near farmlands, bush paths or undeveloped land are more exposed, especially when land is cleared or bushes are burned.
- Animals around the house
Keeping poultry, goats or animal feed in residential compounds can attract rodents, and snakes usually follow.
- It’s just the season
Certain times of the year make snakes more active, whether for breeding or movement, increasing the chances of encounters with people.
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
