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

Rilwanu Sarki for Nigeria Flying Eagles. Copyright: Imagoxolayinkaxluqmanxoniyox

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.

Soccer ​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.

Kelvin Omachonu

Kelvin Omachonu is a professional football columnist and sports writer with over half a decade of experience covering major events and delivering captivating, analytically-driven stories.
A graduate of the University of Ibadan, he is fueled by a profound dedication to sports journalism and the beautiful game. His insights have previously been featured in respected outlets, including IndyPress UI, UCJ UI Newshive NG, Sportpremi, and a few others.
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