Boko Haram plot to bomb U.S., British embassies foiled, Nigeria says

April 12 (UPI) -- A plan to bomb British and U.S. embassies in Nigeria was thwarted with six arrests, Nigeria's Department of State Services announced Wednesday.

Those arrested are members of Boko Haram, the intelligence agency said. The organization is an Islamist militant group linked to the Islamic State, which has waged an insurgency within Nigeria and surrounding countries for seven years.

DSS spokesman Tony Opuiyo said in a statement that "the group had perfected plans to attack the U.K. and American embassies and other western interests in Abuja."

Five people were arrested on March 25 and 26 in Abuja and central Benue state, and another person, arrested several days earlier in northeastern Yobe state, "confessed his involvement in executing the sinister activities of the group," the statement said.

There was no independent confirmation of the information. The U.S. Embassy in Abuja announced that it appreciated the agency's efforts in fighting terrorism, although the British Embassy offered no comment.