ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - At least 13 people, including four kids, were eliminated in two separate stampedes in Nigeria as big crowds gathered to collect food and clothing items distributed at annual Christmas occasions, the authorities stated Saturday.

The two mishaps came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populated country, amid a growing trend by regional companies, and people to arrange charity events ahead of Christmas, as the country battles with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.

Ten individuals were killed in the very first stampede in the early hours at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, an upmarket part of the capital, Abuja, authorities spokesman Josephine Adeh stated in a declaration, including that more than 1,000 people have actually been evacuated from the church.

There was a crowd rise at one of the church gates, as dozens tried to get in the facilities at around 4 a.m., hours before the present items were to be shared, witnesses said, mentioning that some had been waiting since the previous night.

"The method they were hurrying to go into, some people were falling and some of them were old," Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang said he managed to rescue one child as his mom had a hard time in the rise.

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

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

Viral video footage that appeared to be from the Abuja scene revealed lifeless bodies resting on the ground as people screamed for help. A few of the hurt have been dealt with and released while others continue to receive treatment, cops stated.

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

As the church held a marriage event after the crowd was left, the agony and sadness remained palpable even as friends and families gathered for wedding images.

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu expressed his compassion with the victims' families and asked states and appropriate authorities to implement strict crowd control steps.

The recent stampedes in Nigeria have actually raised questions about safety procedures in such events. Several kids were killed on Wednesday today when a local structure organized a well-attended funfair to disperse present items and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.

After the most current catastrophe, the authorities in Abuja announced that previous consent should be gotten before such charity drive are arranged.

The existing financial difficulty under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who promised "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 pushed the regional currency to tape-record low against the dollar.

Frustration over the cost-of-living crisis has actually led to mass protests in recent months. In August, at least 20 people were shot dead and hundreds of others were jailed at demonstrations demanding much better chances and tasks for youths.