Kidnapped, Shot, and Left to Die: Girlfriend of Murdered Fish Seller Recounts Terrifying Final Hours Before His Death

 

The death of Ifesinachi Martins Onyekesi, popularly known as Fish Magnet, has left a deep wound in the hearts of many in Anambra State. The young entrepreneur was known not only for his thriving fish business but also for his passionate commitment to several ventures he built from the ground up alongside his partner.

As tributes pour in and the community reels from the shock, one voice has pierced through the noise with an unfiltered account of the tragedy. That voice belongs to his girlfriend, whose raw and heartbreaking message on social media has given Nigerians a chilling look into the final hours before the young man’s brutal demise.

Her account started with what seemed like a normal Saturday evening. On July 26, 2025, the couple spent time on the phone, chatting long into the night. “You called and we spoke all through till after 9 p.m.,” she recalled. What neither of them knew at the time was that this would be their last conversation.

Just a day later, as the sun set on Sunday evening, the calm was shattered. Around 10 p.m., Onyekesi was attacked in front of his family’s residence by a group of armed men. Not only was he shot at close range, but the assailants also dragged him away, leaving behind a terrified household and neighbors stunned by the sudden violence.

Family members sprang into action. Desperation set in as Onyekesi’s mother and sister, referred to as Mumsi and Chebe, made frantic calls to his phone. By 11 p.m., their persistence paid off when the kidnappers finally answered. The demand was straightforward but cruel: ₦10 million, to be delivered within 20 minutes.

Under intense pressure and with no time to deliberate, the family managed to raise and transfer the ransom before midnight. There was no immediate response from the kidnappers. Anxiety and dread stretched the hours thin, until finally, a call came through at 4 a.m.

They were instructed to go to St. Matthew Catholic Church. Chebe and Mumsi rushed to the location. There, they found Onyekesi lying motionless, bleeding and barely clinging to life. He was rushed to the hospital, but his injuries were too severe. The young man who had once spoken passionately about his dreams and plans didn’t survive.

On the same day, his vehicle was found abandoned in Amobia, a community in Awka South Local Government Area. No arrests had been made at the time of reporting, and local authorities have yet to provide any official statement on the progress of the investigation.

The pain of his passing isn’t only being felt within his family; it has reached across social media platforms, with users demanding answers and justice. Many have called for increased security presence and more efficient policing in the state, where similar cases have occurred with little closure.

His girlfriend’s testimony paints a picture of a partnership rooted in love and hustle. Together, they had built MG_Bodybang, Fish Magnet, and MG Logistics. These businesses, launched without external help or staff, stood as a testament to their ambition and resilience. She spoke about shared dreams, especially his goal of relocating to Thailand, and their many plans that now lie in ruins.

“You didn’t keep to what we agreed,” she wrote with palpable grief. “Where do I start from — 2019, 2020, 2021, or 2022?”

Her emotional eulogy captured the complexity of grief, love, and shattered dreams. Calling him “the most humble man I ever knew,” she vowed to keep his memory alive. Her words, vulnerable and piercing, have resonated widely, transforming a private heartbreak into a collective mourning.

Onyekesi’s death is more than just a statistic; it reflects the growing insecurity in parts of the country where young lives are increasingly cut short by violence. As the community waits for justice and answers, many are left grappling with the same question: how did we get here, and how do we stop it from happening again?

This tragedy is a brutal reminder of the urgency for authorities to not only investigate thoroughly but also to rethink security architecture across volatile regions. Until then, families like Onyekesi’s continue to suffer the unbearable cost of silence and delay.