ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - A minimum of 13 people, including 4 kids, were killed in 2 different stampedes in Nigeria as large crowds collected to collect food and clothing products distributed at annual Christmas events, the police stated Saturday.

The two mishaps came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populated country, amidst a growing trend by local companies, churches and people to arrange charity events ahead of Christmas, as the nation has a hard time with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.

Ten people 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, cops representative Josephine Adeh said in a statement, adding that more than 1,000 individuals have been left from the church.

There was a crowd surge at one of the church gates, as lots attempted to enter the premises at around 4 a.m., hours before the present items were to be shared, witnesses stated, pointing out that some had been waiting considering that the previous night.

"The way they were hurrying to get in, some people were falling and a few of them were old," Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang stated he managed to save one infant as his mother struggled in the surge.

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

"The occasion had not even started when the rush started," police representative Tochukwu Ikenga stated. There could be more deaths recorded as officers investigate the event, he said.

Viral video that appeared to be from the Abuja scene revealed lifeless bodies pushing the ground as individuals shouted for help. Some of the injured have actually been treated and discharged while others continue to get medical care, authorities stated.

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

As the church held a wedding after the crowd was evacuated, the agony and unhappiness remained palpable even as friends and families collected for wedding pictures.

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

The current stampedes in Nigeria have actually raised concerns about security measures in such occasions. Several kids were killed on Wednesday this week when a local structure arranged a well-attended funfair to distribute gift products and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.

After the current disaster, the cops in Abuja announced that previous permission should be gotten before such fundraiser are organized.

The present economic challenge under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who guaranteed "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 pressed the local currency to tape-record low against the dollar.

Frustration over the cost-of-living crisis has actually led to mass demonstrations in current months. In August, at least 20 individuals were shot dead and hundreds of others were arrested at demonstrations demanding much better opportunities and jobs for young people.