‘Fish Magnet’ Dies After Kidnap Despite Ransom Payment, Alleged Girlfriend Recounts Final Moments

A woman identified as the alleged girlfriend of late entrepreneur Ifesinachi Onyekere, popularly known as Fish Magnet, has shared a heartbreaking account of his abduction and death, revealing that he was found near death despite a ransom payment being made.

According to her, Fish Magnet contacted her on the night of Saturday, July 26, 2025, and they spoke until about 9:00 p.m. She had no idea that it would be their last conversation. Just 24 hours later, on Sunday evening, the young businessman was reportedly shot in front of his family home and abducted.

His captors allegedly demanded ₦10 million in ransom, insisting it be paid within 20 minutes. The woman said his mother urgently gathered the money and made the transfer before midnight.

“Before 12pm on Sunday, Mumsi had gathered the money and sent to them,” she wrote in an emotional tribute posted online. “They didn’t pick up again until 4 a.m. on Monday morning.”

By Monday morning, the family received a call instructing them to pick up Fish Magnet near St. Matthew Catholic Church. He was found barely alive and was rushed to a hospital, where doctors attempted to revive him. Tragically, he was pronounced dead shortly afterward.

Later that same day, his vehicle was discovered abandoned in Amoibia, and the family reportedly learned that his attackers had also cleared his bank and Moniepoint accounts after gaining access.

The grieving woman, whose identity has not been publicly confirmed, recalled how they had worked together to build Fish Magnet’s multiple business ventures from the ground up — including MG Logistics, MG Bodybang, and Ifesinachi Mart — without external support or a formal workforce.

“You didn’t keep to what we spoke of,” she wrote. “We built your brand from zero. You left everything… your desk, Chebe, Kasie… What about Mumsi?”

“Even if I lose my mind, I will never forget you. The most humble man I ever knew. My silent bullion van.”

Fish Magnet was widely known for his entrepreneurial ventures, especially in logistics and local commerce. His tragic death has sparked widespread outrage and mourning across social media, with many calling for justice and heightened security in the state.

As of the time of this report, authorities have not issued an official statement on the abduction or confirmed any arrests related to the incident.