Oil firm Shell has made a pledge to train and support Nigerian rebels who have disarmed and ceased their attacks on international companies operating in the oil-rich Niger delta.

By training the rebels to start their own businesses, Shell hopes to prevent rebels who have accepted the Nigerian government's amnesty programme from resuming their armed resistance struggle in the long term.

Thousands of rebels have laid down their arms as part of the amnesty but the main rebel movement MEND announced last week that its attacks would continue.

Shell is the first oil company to offer help to Nigeria's former rebels. The European Union is also considering giving financial support to former rebels to stop them from attacking international oil companies.