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ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - A minimum of 13 individuals, consisting of 4 kids, were eliminated in two different stampedes in Nigeria as big crowds gathered to collect food and clothing products distributed at annual Christmas events, the authorities stated Saturday.

The 2 accidents came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populous nation, amid a growing pattern by regional organizations, churches and people to arrange charity drive ahead of Christmas, as the nation has problem 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, police spokesperson Josephine Adeh said in a declaration, adding that more than 1,000 people have been evacuated from the church.

There was a crowd rise at one of the church gates, as dozens tried to go into the properties at around 4 a.m., hours before the present products were to be shared, witnesses said, explaining that some had been waiting given that the previous night.

"The way they were rushing to enter, some individuals were falling and some of them were old," Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang said he managed to rescue one child as his mom 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 organized by a philanthropist, the state cops stated.

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

Viral video footage that appeared to be from the Abuja scene revealed lifeless bodies lying on the ground as people screamed for assistance. Some of the injured have been dealt with and discharged while others continue to get medical care, police said.

The church canceled the fundraiser with bags of rice and clothes items still arranged within the facilities.

As the church held a marital relationship event after the crowd was evacuated, the misery and sadness remained palpable even as families and friends gathered for wedding event photos.

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu expressed his sympathy with the victims' families and asked states and pertinent authorities to enforce rigorous crowd control steps.

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

After the most recent disaster, the cops in Abuja announced that previous authorization needs to be acquired before such fundraiser are arranged.

The current financial difficulty under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who assured "restored hope" when he was sworn into workplace 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 pushed the regional currency to tape-record low against the dollar.

Frustration over the cost-of-living crisis has led to mass protests in recent months. In August, at least 20 people were shot dead and hundreds of others were jailed at demonstrations demanding much better chances and jobs for young people.