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ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - A minimum of 13 people, consisting of 4 children, were killed in 2 separate stampedes in Nigeria as large crowds gathered to gather food and clothing products distributed at yearly Christmas events, the cops said Saturday.

The 2 accidents came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populous nation, amidst a growing pattern by local organizations, churches and individuals to arrange charity of Christmas, as the country battles with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.

Ten people were killed 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 stated in a statement, adding that more than 1,000 people have been left from the church.

There was a crowd surge at one of the church gates, as lots tried to go into the facilities 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.
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"The way they were hurrying to go into, some people were falling and some of them were old," Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang said he managed to rescue one child as his mom struggled in the rise.

Three people died in a comparable crush later on in the southeastern Anambra state's Okija town at a fundraiser organized by a philanthropist, the state authorities stated.

"The occasion had actually not even begun when the rush began," police spokesman Tochukwu Ikenga stated. There might be more deaths recorded as officers investigate the event, he stated.

Viral video that appeared to be from the Abuja scene revealed lifeless bodies pushing the ground as individuals screamed for assistance. A few of the injured have been treated and released while others continue to get treatment, police said.

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

As the church held a marital relationship ceremony after the crowd was evacuated, the pain and unhappiness remained palpable even as families and buddies gathered for wedding event photos.

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

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

After the current catastrophe, the cops in Abuja revealed that previous permission needs to be gotten before such charity drive are arranged.

The present economic challenge under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who assured "restored 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 financial policies that have actually pushed the regional currency to tape low versus the dollar.

Frustration over the cost-of-living crisis has actually led to mass protests in recent months. In August, at least 20 individuals were shot dead and hundreds of others were jailed at demonstrations demanding much better opportunities and tasks for youths.
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