ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - A minimum of 13 people, consisting of 4 children, were eliminated in 2 separate stampedes in Nigeria as big crowds gathered to gather food and clothing items dispersed at yearly Christmas events, the police stated Saturday.

The 2 accidents came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populated nation, in the middle of a growing pattern by local organizations, churches and individuals to organize charity drive 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, police representative Josephine Adeh said in a declaration, adding that more than 1,000 individuals have actually 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 items were to be shared, witnesses stated, explaining that some had been waiting because the previous night.

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

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

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

Viral video footage that seemed from the Abuja scene showed lifeless bodies lying on the ground as people shouted for help. A few of the hurt have been dealt with and discharged while others continue to get healthcare, cops stated.

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

As the church held a wedding after the crowd was evacuated, the agony and unhappiness stayed palpable even as friends and families collected for wedding event pictures.

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

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

After the most recent catastrophe, the cops in Abuja revealed that prior consent needs to be gotten before such charity events are organized.

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 pressed the local currency to record low against the dollar.

Frustration over the cost-of-living crisis has actually led to mass demonstrations in recent months. In August, at least 20 individuals were shot dead and numerous others were apprehended at protests requiring better opportunities and jobs for young people.