ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - A minimum of 13 people, including four children, were eliminated in two separate stampedes in Nigeria as big crowds gathered to collect food and clothing products dispersed at yearly Christmas occasions, the cops said Saturday.
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The 2 accidents came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populated nation, in the middle of a growing pattern by regional organizations, churches and people to arrange charity drive ahead of Christmas, as the country struggles with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a .
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Ten people were killed 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 people have been left from the church.

There was a crowd surge at one of the church gates, as lots tried to get in the premises at around 4 a.m., hours before the present products were to be shared, witnesses stated, explaining that some had been waiting considering that the previous night.

"The method they were hurrying to enter, some people were falling and a few of them were old," Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang stated he managed to rescue one child as his mother struggled in the rise.

Three individuals passed away in a comparable crush later on in the southeastern Anambra state's Okija town at a charity drive arranged by a benefactor, the state police stated.

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

Viral video footage that appeared to be from the Abuja scene showed lifeless bodies pushing the ground as people shouted for help. Some of the hurt have actually been treated and discharged while others continue to get medical care, police stated.

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

As the church held a wedding after the crowd was left, the agony and sadness stayed palpable even as families and friends gathered for wedding event pictures.

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

The recent stampedes in Nigeria have raised concerns about safety steps in such events. Several children were eliminated on Wednesday this week when a local foundation arranged a well-attended funfair to distribute gift items and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.

After the latest disaster, the police in Abuja revealed that prior authorization needs to be acquired before such fundraiser are arranged.
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The present financial difficulty under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who guaranteed "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 financial policies that have actually pressed the local currency to tape low versus the dollar.

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