ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - At least 13 individuals, including 4 children, were killed in two different stampedes in Nigeria as big crowds collected to gather food and clothes products dispersed at annual Christmas occasions, the authorities stated Saturday.

The 2 mishaps came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populous nation, amidst a growing trend by local organizations, churches and people to arrange fundraiser ahead of Christmas, as the nation has problem with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.

Ten people 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 people have been evacuated from the church.

There was a crowd surge at one of the church gates, as lots tried to go into the facilities at around 4 a.m., hours before the gift items were to be shared, witnesses said, explaining that some had actually been waiting given that the previous night.
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"The method 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 infant as his mother had a hard time in the surge.

Three people passed away in a comparable crush later in the southeastern Anambra state's Okija town at a by a philanthropist, the state authorities stated.

"The event had not even begun when the rush started," cops representative Tochukwu Ikenga stated. There could be more deaths taped as officers investigate the incident, he said.

Viral video footage that seemed from the Abuja scene revealed lifeless bodies pushing the ground as people shouted for assistance. A few of the injured have actually been dealt with and discharged while others continue to receive medical care, police stated.
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The church canceled the fundraiser with bags of rice and clothing items still arranged within the premises.

As the church held a marriage ceremony after the crowd was left, the pain and sadness stayed palpable even as households and pals gathered for wedding event photos.
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Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu expressed his compassion with the victims' families and asked states and relevant authorities to impose stringent crowd control steps.

The recent stampedes in Nigeria have actually raised concerns about security procedures in such occasions. Several kids were killed on Wednesday this week when a regional structure arranged a well-attended funfair to distribute present products and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.

After the most recent catastrophe, the police in Abuja announced that prior consent should be acquired before such fundraiser are arranged.

The existing economic difficulty under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who guaranteed "restored 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 pushed the local currency to tape-record low against the dollar.

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