The Nigerian authorities say 15,000 rebels in the Niger Delta have handed in their weapons under the terms of a government amnesty.

In return for laying down their arms, the fighters have been promised they will not be prosecuted. They are to be housed in special centres and given support in finding jobs.

The rebels had until last Sunday to agree to the amnesty conditions. Rebel leaders have said they will resume fighting if government promises are not kept.

Militants took to arms in southern Nigeria in 2006, demanding that local people should receive a fair share of the country’s oil wealth.