ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - A minimum of 13 people, consisting of 4 children, were killed in 2 different stampedes in Nigeria as big crowds collected to gather food and clothing products distributed at annual Christmas events, the cops stated Saturday.

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

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

There was a crowd rise at one of the church gates, as dozens attempted to go into the facilities at around 4 a.m., hours before the present products were to be shared, witnesses stated, pointing out that some had been waiting because the previous night.

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

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

"The occasion had actually not even started when the rush began," cops spokesman Tochukwu Ikenga said. There might be more deaths recorded as officers investigate the event, he stated.

Viral footage that appeared to be from the Abuja scene revealed lifeless bodies pushing the ground as individuals yelled for aid. Some of the hurt have been treated and discharged while others continue to receive healthcare, authorities stated.

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

As the church held a marriage event after the crowd was evacuated, the agony and unhappiness remained palpable even as families and good friends collected for wedding event photos.

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu revealed his sympathy with the victims' families and asked states and appropriate authorities to implement stringent crowd control procedures.

The current stampedes in Nigeria have raised concerns about precaution in such events. Several kids were killed on Wednesday today when a regional structure arranged a well-attended funfair to distribute gift products and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.

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

The present economic challenge under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who promised "restored 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 regional currency to tape-record low versus the dollar.

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