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

The 2 accidents came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populated nation, amid a growing pattern by regional organizations, churches and people to arrange fundraiser ahead of Christmas, as the nation deals with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.

Ten individuals were eliminated in the first stampede in the early hours at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, an upmarket part of the capital, Abuja, cops representative Josephine Adeh stated in a declaration, including that more than 1,000 individuals have actually been left from the church.

There was a crowd rise at one of the church gates, as lots tried to get in the properties at around 4 a.m., hours before the gift products were to be shared, witnesses said, mentioning that some had actually been waiting because the previous night.

"The way they were hurrying to go into, some individuals were falling and some of them were old," Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang stated he managed to save one baby as his mother struggled in the rise.

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

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

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

The church canceled the fundraiser with bags of rice and clothing items still set up within the premises.

As the church held a marital relationship event after the crowd was left, the misery and sadness stayed 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 pertinent authorities to enforce strict crowd control steps.

The recent stampedes in Nigeria have raised questions about security measures in such events. Several children were killed on Wednesday this week when a regional structure arranged a well-attended funfair to distribute present products and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.

After the most recent catastrophe, the authorities in Abuja announced that previous authorization needs to be acquired before such charity occasions are organized.

The existing economic difficulty under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who promised "renewed hope" when he was sworn into workplace 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 regional currency to record low versus the dollar.

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