ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - At least 13 people, consisting of four children, were eliminated in 2 separate stampedes in Nigeria as big crowds gathered to gather food and clothing products distributed at yearly Christmas events, the police said Saturday.

The 2 accidents came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populous country, in the middle of a growing trend by local organizations, churches and individuals to arrange fundraiser ahead of Christmas, as the country fights 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, authorities spokesman Josephine Adeh stated in a statement, including 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 lots attempted to enter the facilities at around 4 a.m., hours before the present products were to be shared, witnesses stated, pointing out that some had actually been waiting given that the previous night.

"The way they were rushing to go into, some people were falling and some of them were old," Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang stated he handled to save one infant as his mother had a hard time in the surge.

Three people died in a similar crush later in the southeastern Anambra state's Okija town at a fundraiser arranged by a philanthropist, the state cops stated.

"The event had actually not even begun when the rush started," authorities spokesman Tochukwu Ikenga stated. There might be more deaths recorded as examine the occurrence, he stated.

Viral video that seemed from the Abuja scene revealed lifeless bodies resting on the ground as people screamed for aid. A few of the hurt have been dealt with and discharged while others continue to get medical care, cops stated.

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

As the church held a marital relationship ceremony after the crowd was evacuated, the agony and sadness remained palpable even as households and friends gathered for wedding event pictures.

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

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

After the most current catastrophe, the authorities in Abuja revealed that prior consent needs to be obtained before such fundraiser are organized.

The existing economic challenge 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 actually pushed the local currency to tape-record low versus the dollar.

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