A British national has been kidnapped earlier this week after unknown gunmen ambushed his car near an airport in Nigeria's economic and commercial capital Lagos, local police said late Friday.

The Briton was abducted on Tuesday after leaving Lagos Murtala International Airport, a police officer told Xinhua. The case was under investigation.

"We have set our dragnet and we will get the kidnappers and rescue the victim," the officer said by phone.

The British High Commission in Nigeria confirmed the abduction, saying that it was working closely with relevant organizations to secure the release.

In March, a Briton was ambushed and kidnapped by unknown gunmen in Victoria Island of Lagos, and was later released.

High-profile kidnappings and abductions of foreigners for ransom are rampant in Nigeria's southern oil-rich states and most victims were released unharmed after ransoms were paid.

The Nigerian Islamist extremist group Boko Haram and another Islamist Ansaru sect have recently claimed responsibility for the abduction of some foreigners.