Nigeria, March 17 -- At least 15 people have been killed after suspected bandits launched a reprisal attack on communities in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State on Tuesday, in what appears to be the first major breach of a fragile peace accord that had held for over a year.

The attack occurred around midday in Falale and Kadobe villages, according to the police and the Katsina State Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs.

Jibia, a border area that has long experienced banditry, had recorded relative calm following a locally brokered peace arrangement involving security agencies, community leaders and armed groups.

Police said the incident began when a group of vigilantes on patrol intercepted three suspected "repentan...