Former Nigeria Under-20 winger Rilwan Sarki was reportedly arrested by Nigerian authorities after he arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
The 22-year-old currently plays for Al Ain FC and recently completed a successful campaign in the United Arab Emirates, where the club won both the UAE Pro League title and the UAE President’s Cup.
Although Sarki only made eight appearances during the season, he was part of the side that secured the domestic double before returning to Nigeria for the off-season break.
Police investigation related to the arrest
According to reports, the winger was intercepted at the Abuja Airport by a joint team of the Nigeria Police and the Nigerian Immigration Service.
The arrest was reportedly linked to an ongoing criminal investigation dating back more than a year, with allegations that Sarki had failed to comply with several police subpoenas related to the case.
However, details of the alleged case have not been released.
Reports also suggest that efforts are already underway behind the scenes to secure the player’s release, with senior officials within both security agencies said to have been contacted.
At the time of filing, neither the Nigerian Police Force nor the Nigerian Immigration Service had released an official statement regarding the incident.
Sarki – former Flying Eagles player
Sarki represented Nigeria at youth level between 2022 and 2023 and was part of the Flying Eagles squad that finished third at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations U-20.
The winger also featured at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup, where Nigeria reached the quarter-finals.
His performances during that period earned him a move to Al Ain in 2023 as he continued his development abroad.
