ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - At least 13 individuals, including 4 children, were killed in two different stampedes in Nigeria as large crowds collected to gather food and clothes items distributed at annual Christmas events, the cops said Saturday.

The 2 accidents came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populous nation, amid a growing trend by regional companies, churches and individuals to arrange fundraiser ahead of Christmas, as the country fights with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.

Ten individuals 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 spokesperson Josephine Adeh said in a declaration, adding that more than 1,000 individuals have been evacuated from the church.

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

"The way they were rushing to go into, some individuals were falling and some of them were old," Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang stated he handled to rescue one baby as his mother struggled in the surge.

Three people passed away in a similar crush later in the southeastern Anambra state's Okija town at a charity drive organized by a benefactor, the state authorities stated.

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

Viral video footage that appeared to be from the Abuja scene showed lifeless bodies resting on the ground as individuals screamed for aid. A few of the injured have actually been dealt with and released while others continue to receive medical care, police stated.

The church canceled the charity occasion with bags of rice and clothes items still organized within the properties.

As the church held a marriage ceremony after the crowd was evacuated, the misery and sadness remained palpable even as friends and families collected for wedding event pictures.

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu expressed his sympathy with the victims' families and asked states and appropriate authorities to impose stringent crowd control steps.

The current stampedes in Nigeria have actually raised questions about safety measures in such occasions. Several kids were killed on Wednesday this week when a local foundation organized a well-attended funfair to distribute gift items and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.

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

The present financial difficulty under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who assured "renewed hope" when he was sworn into office in May 2023, is blamed on rising inflation that is at a 28-year high and the federal government ´ s economic policies that have actually pressed the regional currency to tape-record low against the dollar.

Frustration over the cost-of-living crisis has caused mass protests in current months. In August, at least 20 individuals were shot dead and hundreds of others were apprehended at protests requiring better opportunities and tasks for young people.