ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - At least 13 people, including 4 children, were eliminated in 2 different stampedes in Nigeria as big crowds gathered to collect food and clothes products distributed at annual Christmas occasions, the cops said Saturday.

The 2 mishaps came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populated country, amid a growing trend by regional companies, churches and individuals to organize charity drive ahead of Christmas, as the nation battles 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 representative Josephine Adeh stated in a statement, including that more than 1,000 individuals have been left from the church.

There was a crowd rise at one of the church gates, as lots tried to get in the facilities at around 4 a.m., hours before the present items were to be shared, witnesses said, mentioning that some had been waiting given that the previous night.

"The method they were rushing to get in, some individuals were falling and some of them were old," Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang stated he handled to save one infant as his mother struggled in the rise.

Three people died in a comparable crush later in the southeastern Anambra state's Okija town at a charity event organized by a philanthropist, the state police said.

"The occasion had actually not even begun when the rush began," authorities representative Tochukwu Ikenga stated. There might be more deaths recorded as officers investigate the occurrence, he said.

Viral footage that appeared to be from the Abuja scene showed lifeless bodies lying on the ground as people shouted for assistance. Some of the injured have actually been treated and released while others continue to receive healthcare, cops stated.

The church canceled the charity drive with bags of rice and clothes products still organized within the properties.

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

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

The recent stampedes in Nigeria have actually raised questions about safety measures in such events. Several children were eliminated on Wednesday this week when a local foundation arranged a well-attended funfair to disperse present products and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.

After the most current catastrophe, the police in Abuja revealed that previous permission must be gotten before such charity events are arranged.

The current economic difficulty under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who guaranteed "restored hope" when he was sworn into office in May 2023, is blamed on surging 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 resulted in mass protests in recent months. In August, a minimum of 20 people were shot dead and hundreds of others were jailed at demonstrations demanding better opportunities and tasks for young individuals.