ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - At least 13 individuals, consisting of 4 children, were eliminated in two separate stampedes in Nigeria as big to collect food and clothes items distributed at yearly Christmas occasions, the cops stated Saturday.

The 2 mishaps came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populous country, in the middle of a growing pattern by local organizations, churches and people to organize fundraiser ahead of Christmas, as the nation struggles 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, police spokesperson Josephine Adeh stated in a declaration, adding that more than 1,000 individuals have actually been evacuated from the church.

There was a crowd rise at one of the church gates, as lots attempted to go into the properties at around 4 a.m., hours before the present products were to be shared, witnesses stated, mentioning that some had actually been waiting given that the previous night.

"The way they were rushing to get in, some individuals were falling and a few of them were old," Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang said he handled to rescue one child as his mom had a hard time in the rise.

Three individuals passed away in a comparable crush later in the southeastern Anambra state's Okija town at a charity event arranged by a philanthropist, the state authorities said.

"The event had actually not even begun when the rush began," cops representative Tochukwu Ikenga stated. There could be more deaths tape-recorded as officers investigate the occurrence, he said.

Viral footage that seemed from the Abuja scene showed lifeless bodies pushing the ground as people shouted for aid. A few of the injured have actually been dealt with and discharged while others continue to receive treatment, cops said.

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

As the church held a marital relationship event after the crowd was evacuated, the pain and unhappiness remained palpable even as friends and families gathered for wedding images.

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

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

After the newest catastrophe, the authorities in Abuja revealed that prior consent needs to be gotten before such charity drive are arranged.

The existing financial challenge under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who guaranteed "renewed 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 actually pushed the local currency to record low versus the dollar.

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