ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - At least 13 people, consisting of 4 children, were killed in two separate stampedes in Nigeria as large crowds collected to collect food and clothes items dispersed at yearly Christmas occasions, the cops said Saturday.

The two accidents came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populous nation, amid a growing trend by regional companies, churches and individuals to arrange fundraiser ahead of Christmas, as the country has a hard time with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.

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

There was a crowd rise at one of the church gates, as dozens tried to get in the facilities at around 4 a.m., hours before the gift items were to be shared, witnesses said, mentioning that some had been waiting considering that the previous night.

"The method they were rushing to enter, some people were falling and a few of them were old," Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang said he managed to rescue one baby as his mom had a hard time in the rise.

Three individuals died in a comparable crush later on in the southeastern Anambra state's Okija town at a charity drive organized by a philanthropist, the state police said.

"The event had actually not even started when the rush began," cops spokesman Tochukwu Ikenga said. There could be more deaths taped as officers investigate the event, he said.
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Viral video that appeared to be from the Abuja scene showed lifeless bodies lying on the ground as individuals shouted for help. Some of the injured have actually been treated and discharged while others continue to receive medical care, police stated.

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

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

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu revealed his sympathy with the victims' households and asked states and pertinent authorities to implement stringent crowd control measures.
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The recent stampedes in Nigeria have actually raised questions about precaution in such occasions. Several children were eliminated on Wednesday today when a local foundation arranged a well-attended funfair to disperse gift items and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.
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After the latest disaster, the police in Abuja revealed that previous approval needs to be acquired before such charity drive are organized.

The present economic difficulty under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who promised "restored hope" when he was sworn into office in May 2023, is blamed on surging inflation that is at a 28-year high and the government ´ s economic policies that have pressed the to record low versus the dollar.

Frustration over the cost-of-living crisis has led to mass protests in current months. In August, a minimum of 20 individuals were shot dead and hundreds of others were apprehended at demonstrations requiring better chances and tasks for youths.