ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - At least 13 individuals, including four children, were killed in two different stampedes in Nigeria as big crowds gathered to gather food and clothes products distributed at annual Christmas occasions, the authorities stated Saturday.

The 2 accidents came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populated country, amidst a growing trend by local companies, churches and individuals to arrange charity drive ahead of Christmas, as the country battles 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, cops spokesman Josephine Adeh stated in a statement, 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 tried to get in the facilities at around 4 a.m., hours before the gift products were to be shared, witnesses said, mentioning that some had actually been waiting because the previous night.

"The way they were hurrying to go into, some people were falling and some of them were old," Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang said he managed to save one infant as his mother had a hard time in the rise.

Three individuals died in a similar crush later on in the southeastern Anambra state's Okija town at a fundraiser organized by a benefactor, the state police stated.

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

Viral footage that seemed from the Abuja scene showed lifeless bodies resting on the ground as people screamed for help. Some of the injured have actually been treated and discharged while others continue to receive treatment, 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 pain and sadness stayed palpable even as friends and families gathered for wedding pictures.

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu revealed his compassion with the victims' households and asked states and relevant authorities to implement stringent crowd control procedures.

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

After the current disaster, the police in Abuja revealed that previous consent must be acquired before such fundraiser are organized.

The present financial difficulty under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who promised "renewed hope" when he was sworn into workplace in May 2023, is blamed on that is at a 28-year high and the government ´ s financial policies that have pressed the regional currency to tape-record low versus the dollar.

Frustration over the cost-of-living crisis has caused mass protests in current months. In August, at least 20 people were shot dead and numerous others were detained at demonstrations demanding better opportunities and tasks for youths.