Rilwanu Sarki: Ex-Nigeria U-20 forward arrested at Abuja airport – Report

Former Flying Eagles winger Rilwanu Sarki has reportedly been arrested by the Nigerian police in Abuja.

​Soccernet.ng reports that the 22-year-old Nigerian winger currently plays for United Arab Emirates (UAE) giants Al Ain. He is coming off a successful season that saw his club crowned as the UAE Pro League champions and UAE President's Cup winners.

Sarki, who joined the club in 2023, played a peripheral role, featuring in just eight games all season. Nonetheless, he still walked away with two winners' medals.

​Typically, when Nigerian players finish their campaigns with their foreign clubs, they return home to spend the off-season holidays with family. Sarki followed suit, but his return to Nigeria took a sharp turn for the worse when he was reportedly arrested upon arrival at the airport in Abuja.

​Rilwanu Sarki: Why Was the Former Flying Eagles Player Arrested?

​Sarki was returning home for his post-season holiday when he was reportedly met by a joint team from the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Immigration Service at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

​According to Oga Nla Media, Sarki was arrested due to his failure to honor several police invitations related to a criminal investigation from over a year ago. However, the specific details of the case in question have not yet been revealed.

​Reports suggest that efforts are underway to secure his release from custody, with calls being made to several high-ranking officials within both the police and immigration services.

​As of press time, neither the Nigeria Police Force nor the Nigeria Immigration Service has released an official statement on the matter, and Soccernet.ng's efforts to reach them has been unsuccessful.

​Sarki was a member of Nigeria's under-20 team, the Flying Eagles, from 2022 to 2023. He played a prominent role in the 2023 Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations, helping Nigeria to a third-place finish. He also featured in four games during the 2023 Under-20 World Cup, contributing to the Flying Eagles' run to the quarterfinals.