ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - At least 13 people, consisting of four children, were eliminated in two different stampedes in Nigeria as large crowds collected to collect food and clothes products distributed at yearly Christmas occasions, the cops said Saturday.

The two accidents came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populous country, amid a growing pattern by regional organizations, churches and people to organize charity occasions ahead of Christmas, as the nation fights with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.

Ten individuals were killed in the first stampede in the early hours at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, an upmarket part of the capital, Abuja, authorities spokesperson Josephine Adeh said in a declaration, adding that more than 1,000 individuals have been evacuated from the church.

There was a crowd surge at one of the church gates, as dozens attempted to enter the properties at around 4 a.m., hours before the present products were to be shared, witnesses stated, mentioning that some had actually been waiting because the previous night.

"The way they were rushing to get in, some individuals were falling and some of them were old," Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang said he managed to save one baby as his mom had a hard time in the rise.

Three people passed away in a similar crush later on in the southeastern Anambra state's Okija town at a charity drive organized by a benefactor, the state authorities stated.

"The occasion had actually not even begun when the rush began," cops representative Tochukwu Ikenga stated. There could be more deaths tape-recorded as officers examine the incident, he said.

Viral video footage that seemed from the Abuja scene showed lifeless bodies resting on the ground as people yelled for aid. Some of the hurt have actually been dealt with and discharged while others continue to get treatment, authorities said.

The church canceled the charity drive with bags of rice and clothing products still organized within the facilities.

As the church held a marriage event after the crowd was left, the misery and unhappiness stayed palpable even as friends and families collected for wedding event photos.

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu expressed his compassion with the victims' families and asked states and relevant authorities to implement strict crowd control steps.

The recent stampedes in Nigeria have raised concerns about safety steps in such events. Several children were eliminated on Wednesday today when a regional foundation arranged a well-attended funfair to disperse gift items and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.

After the newest disaster, the cops in Abuja announced that previous consent should be acquired before such charity events are organized.

The existing economic challenge under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who guaranteed "renewed hope" when he was sworn into workplace in May 2023, is blamed on rising inflation that is at a 28-year high and the government ´ s financial policies that have actually pushed the local currency to record low against the dollar.

Frustration over the cost-of-living crisis has led to mass demonstrations in current months. In August, at least 20 people were shot dead and numerous others were arrested at demonstrations demanding better chances and jobs for young individuals.

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