ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - A minimum of 13 people, including 4 children, were eliminated in two separate stampedes in Nigeria as big crowds collected to collect food and clothing products dispersed at yearly Christmas events, the police said Saturday.

The two mishaps came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populated nation, amidst a growing trend by regional companies, churches and individuals to organize fundraiser ahead of Christmas, as the country deals with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.

Ten individuals were eliminated in the first stampede in the early hours at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, an upmarket part of the capital, Abuja, cops representative Josephine Adeh said in a statement, including that more than 1,000 individuals have actually been left from the church.
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There was a crowd rise at one of the church gates, as dozens tried to go into the properties at around 4 a.m., hours before the present items were to be shared, witnesses stated, pointing out that some had actually been waiting given that the previous night.

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

Three individuals passed away in a similar crush later on in the southeastern Anambra state's Okija town at a charity occasion arranged by a philanthropist, the state police said.
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"The event had not even begun when the rush started," police spokesperson Tochukwu Ikenga said. There could be more deaths taped as officers examine the incident, he said.
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Viral video footage that seemed from the Abuja scene showed lifeless bodies pushing the ground as people screamed for help. Some of the injured have actually been treated and released while others continue to get treatment, cops stated.

The church canceled the charity drive with bags of rice and clothes products still set up within the premises.

As the church held a marital relationship ceremony after the crowd was evacuated, the pain and unhappiness stayed palpable even as friends and families collected for wedding photos.

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu revealed his compassion with the and asked states and relevant authorities to enforce stringent crowd control steps.

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

After the current catastrophe, the cops in Abuja revealed that prior authorization needs to be gotten before such fundraiser are arranged.

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

Frustration over the cost-of-living crisis has actually caused mass protests in recent months. In August, a minimum of 20 people were shot dead and numerous others were apprehended at demonstrations requiring much better opportunities and jobs for youths.