ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - A minimum of 13 people, consisting of 4 children, were killed in two separate stampedes in Nigeria as big crowds gathered to gather food and clothing products dispersed at annual Christmas occasions, the police said Saturday.

The two accidents came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populous country, in the middle of a growing pattern by regional organizations, churches and individuals to organize charity occasions ahead of Christmas, as the country has problem with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.

Ten people 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 said in a declaration, including that more than 1,000 people have been left from the church.

There was a crowd surge at one of the church gates, as dozens attempted to get in the facilities at around 4 a.m., hours before the present products were to be shared, witnesses said, pointing out that some had actually been waiting considering that 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 stated he handled to rescue one child as his mom had a hard time in the surge.

Three individuals died in a similar crush later on in the southeastern Anambra state's Okija town at a charity drive arranged by a benefactor, the state authorities said.

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

Viral video footage that appeared to be from the Abuja scene showed lifeless bodies pushing the ground as individuals shouted for help. A few of the injured have been dealt with and released while others continue to receive healthcare, authorities stated.

The church canceled the charity occasion with bags of rice and clothes items still arranged within the properties.

As the church held a marital relationship event after the crowd was evacuated, the pain and unhappiness remained palpable even as families and buddies gathered for wedding event images.

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu revealed his compassion with the victims' families and asked states and appropriate authorities to impose rigorous crowd control steps.

The current stampedes in Nigeria have raised questions about precaution in such events. Several kids were killed on Wednesday today when a regional structure arranged a to disperse gift products and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.

After the newest disaster, the authorities in Abuja revealed that prior permission should be gotten before such charity events are organized.

The present economic difficulty under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who guaranteed "renewed 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 actually pushed the local currency to tape low against the dollar.

Frustration over the cost-of-living crisis has resulted in mass protests in current months. In August, a minimum of 20 individuals were shot dead and numerous others were detained at demonstrations requiring better chances and tasks for youths.