ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - A minimum of 13 individuals, consisting of 4 kids, were eliminated in 2 separate stampedes in Nigeria as large crowds collected to gather food and clothes items distributed at yearly Christmas occasions, the police stated Saturday.

The 2 accidents came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populated nation, amid a growing pattern by local companies, churches and individuals to arrange charity events ahead of Christmas, as the country battles 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 stated in a declaration, adding that more than 1,000 individuals have actually been evacuated from the church.

There was a crowd surge at one of the church gates, as dozens tried to go into the properties at around 4 a.m., hours before the gift products 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 a few of them were old," Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang said he handled to rescue one child as his mom struggled in the rise.

Three individuals died in a similar crush later in the southeastern Anambra state's Okija town at a charity occasion arranged by a benefactor, the state cops stated.

"The occasion had actually not even started when the rush started," authorities spokesperson Tochukwu Ikenga said. There might be more deaths tape-recorded as officers examine the event, he said.

Viral footage that appeared to be from the Abuja scene showed lifeless bodies pushing the ground as people yelled for assistance. Some of the hurt have been treated and released while others continue to receive medical care, authorities stated.

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

As the church held a wedding after the crowd was evacuated, the pain and unhappiness stayed palpable even as families and buddies gathered for wedding photos.

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu revealed his compassion with the victims' households and asked states and pertinent authorities to enforce strict crowd control procedures.

The current stampedes in Nigeria have actually raised concerns about precaution in such occasions. Several children were eliminated on Wednesday this week when a regional foundation organized a well-attended funfair to distribute gift products and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.

After the current catastrophe, the cops in Abuja revealed that previous consent needs to be acquired before such are organized.

The present economic challenge under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who promised "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 government ´ s financial policies that have pushed the regional currency to tape-record low against the dollar.

Frustration over the cost-of-living crisis has actually resulted in mass demonstrations in current months. In August, a minimum of 20 individuals were shot dead and numerous others were arrested at demonstrations demanding better opportunities and jobs for youths.