ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - At least 13 people, consisting of 4 children, were killed in 2 separate stampedes in Nigeria as large crowds collected to collect food and clothing items distributed at yearly Christmas occasions, the police stated Saturday.

The two mishaps came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populated nation, amidst a growing trend by local companies, churches and people to arrange fundraiser ahead of Christmas, as the nation has problem with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.
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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 spokesman Josephine Adeh stated in a declaration, including that more than 1,000 people have actually been evacuated from the church.

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

"The way they were rushing to go into, some people were falling and some of them were old," Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang said he handled to save one infant as his mother had a hard time in the surge.

Three individuals passed away in a comparable crush later in the southeastern Anambra state's Okija town at a charity drive arranged by a benefactor, the state cops stated.

"The event had actually not even begun when the rush began," cops spokesman Tochukwu Ikenga said. There could be more deaths recorded as officers examine the occurrence, he said.

Viral video that appeared to be from the Abuja scene revealed lifeless bodies lying on the ground as people screamed for help. A few of the injured have actually been dealt with and released while others continue to receive medical care, authorities stated.
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The church canceled the fundraiser with bags of rice and clothes items still organized within the properties.
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As the church held a marriage event after the crowd was evacuated, the agony and sadness stayed palpable even as households and buddies collected for wedding event photos.

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu revealed his compassion with the victims' families and asked states and pertinent authorities to enforce strict crowd control steps.

The current stampedes in Nigeria have actually raised concerns about precaution in such events. Several kids were eliminated on Wednesday this week when a regional foundation organized a well-attended funfair to disperse gift products and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.

After the most recent catastrophe, the authorities in Abuja announced that previous consent needs to be acquired before such charity events are arranged.

The current financial challenge under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who guaranteed "renewed hope" when he was sworn into workplace in May 2023, is blamed on surging inflation that is at a 28-year high and the federal government ´ s economic policies that have pressed the regional currency to tape-record low versus the dollar.

Frustration over the cost-of-living crisis has caused mass protests in current months. In August, at least 20 individuals were shot dead and hundreds of others were detained at demonstrations requiring much better opportunities and tasks for youths.