Nigeria Election Arrests 2015: Police Reportedly Arrest 67 For Electoral Offenses, Breaching The Peace

Police have arrested 67 people for election-related offenses in Nigeria following the country's March 28 presidential and National Assembly elections, according to Chinese news agency Xinhua. The news agency reported that the offenses ranged from breaching the peace to snatching ballot papers.

Police spokesman Magaji Majiya said at a news conference in Lagos Thursday that the arrests were made in various locations and that the police confiscated weapons such as knives, swords, sticks, machetes and bows and arrows, according to the report. Majiya also commended voters for engaging in a largely peaceful election and for cooperating with the law, according to Xinhua.

Both the presidential and legislative body elections saw a shift in power. Incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan of the People's Democratic Party lost to All Progressives Congress opponent Muhammadu Buhari by three million votes, according to Reuters. Buhari won on a platform largely based on security and stability, promising to gain control over insurgent terrorist organization Boko Haram. The long-ruling PDP then lost control of Nigeria's election body in a close race as the APC took control of 64 of 109 seats.

Majiya told the young people to celebrate Buhari's victory with caution to avoid any accidents, Xinhua reported. Despite reports of more than 50 deaths in the country, the 2015 election was considered relatively smooth in comparison to its predecessor in 2011. That year's national poll saw at least 800 people die in Nigeria's northeast region after Jonathan defeated Buhari.