ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - At least 13 individuals, including four children, were killed in two separate stampedes in Nigeria as big crowds collected to collect food and clothes items distributed at yearly Christmas events, the authorities said Saturday.

The 2 accidents came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populous country, amid a growing trend by regional companies, churches and individuals to organize charity events ahead of Christmas, as the nation deals 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, police spokesperson Josephine Adeh stated in a declaration, adding that more than 1,000 individuals have actually been evacuated from the church.

There was a crowd surge at one of the church gates, as lots attempted to go into the facilities at around 4 a.m., hours before the gift products were to be shared, witnesses stated, mentioning that some had actually been waiting considering that the previous night.

"The way they were hurrying to get in, some people were falling and some of them were old," Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang said he handled to rescue one baby as his mother struggled in the surge.

Three individuals passed away in a comparable crush later on in the southeastern Anambra state's Okija town at a charity drive organized by a philanthropist, the state cops said.

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

Viral footage that appeared to be from the Abuja scene showed lifeless bodies pushing the ground as people shouted for aid. Some of the injured have been dealt with and released while others continue to get treatment, cops stated.

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

As the church held a wedding after the crowd was evacuated, the misery and unhappiness stayed palpable even as households and buddies gathered for wedding photos.

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

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

After the latest disaster, the police in Abuja announced that previous approval needs to be acquired before such fundraiser are arranged.

The present financial challenge under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who promised "restored 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 pushed the local currency to tape-record low against the dollar.

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