ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - At least 13 individuals, including 4 kids, were eliminated in 2 different stampedes in Nigeria as large crowds gathered to gather food and clothes items dispersed at yearly Christmas occasions, the police stated Saturday.

The 2 accidents came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populous nation, amid a growing pattern by regional organizations, churches and people to arrange fundraiser ahead of Christmas, as the nation battles with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.

Ten people 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 statement, including that more than 1,000 people have been left from the church.

There was a crowd surge at one of the church gates, as dozens tried to get in the properties at around 4 a.m., hours before the gift products were to be shared, witnesses said, pointing out that some had actually been waiting considering 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 stated he managed to save one infant as his mom struggled in the surge.

Three individuals died in a similar crush later in the southeastern Anambra state's Okija town at a charity event organized by a philanthropist, the state authorities said.

"The event had not even started when the rush began," authorities spokesman Tochukwu Ikenga stated. There could be more deaths recorded as officers investigate the incident, he said.

Viral video that seemed from the Abuja scene showed lifeless bodies lying on the ground as people yelled for help. A few of the hurt have actually been treated and released while others continue to get healthcare, police stated.

The church canceled the charity event with bags of rice and clothing products still set up within the facilities.

As the church held a marital relationship ceremony after the crowd was evacuated, the misery and unhappiness stayed palpable even as households and pals gathered for wedding pictures.

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu revealed his sympathy with the victims' families and asked states and pertinent authorities to implement rigorous crowd control measures.

The current stampedes in Nigeria have raised concerns about security measures in such occasions. Several kids were killed on Wednesday this week when a local structure organized a well-attended funfair to disperse gift products and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.

After the most recent catastrophe, the cops in Abuja revealed that prior approval must be gotten before such charity events are arranged.

The present financial difficulty under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who assured "renewed 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 economic policies that have pressed the regional currency to record low versus the dollar.

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