ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - At least 13 individuals, including four children, were eliminated in two different stampedes in Nigeria as large crowds gathered to collect food and clothing products distributed at annual Christmas occasions, the cops stated Saturday.

The 2 accidents came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populated nation, in the middle of a growing trend by local organizations, churches and individuals to organize charity occasions ahead of Christmas, as the country 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 representative Josephine Adeh said in a declaration, including that more than 1,000 individuals have been evacuated from the church.

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

"The way they were hurrying to get in, some individuals were falling and some of them were old," Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang stated he handled to rescue one baby as his mom struggled in the rise.

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

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

Viral footage that seemed from the Abuja scene revealed lifeless bodies pushing the ground as people yelled for help. Some of the hurt have been dealt with and discharged while others continue to receive healthcare, cops said.

The church canceled the charity occasion with bags of rice and clothing items still organized within the facilities.

As the church held a wedding after the crowd was evacuated, the misery and unhappiness remained palpable even as friends and families gathered for wedding event pictures.

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu expressed his sympathy with the victims' households and asked states and appropriate authorities to impose stringent crowd control measures.

The current stampedes in Nigeria have actually raised questions about precaution in such . Several children were eliminated on Wednesday today when a regional structure organized a well-attended funfair to distribute present products and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.

After the most current catastrophe, the authorities in Abuja announced that previous authorization must be acquired before such charity occasions are organized.

The current economic hardship under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who assured "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 federal government ´ s economic policies that have pressed the regional currency to tape-record low against the dollar.

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