ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - At least 13 people, consisting of four kids, were eliminated in two different stampedes in Nigeria as big crowds collected to collect food and clothing items distributed at yearly Christmas events, the police said Saturday.

The 2 accidents came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populous nation, amid a growing pattern by organizations, churches and people to organize charity drive ahead of Christmas, as the country fights 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, police representative Josephine Adeh said in a statement, including that more than 1,000 people have been evacuated from the church.

There was a crowd surge at one of the church gates, as dozens tried to get in the premises at around 4 a.m., hours before the gift products were to be shared, witnesses said, pointing out that some had actually been waiting given that the previous night.

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

Three individuals died in a comparable crush later in the southeastern Anambra state's Okija town at a charity occasion arranged by a philanthropist, the state authorities said.

"The event had actually not even started when the rush began," police representative Tochukwu Ikenga stated. There might be more deaths taped as officers examine the incident, he said.

Viral video footage that appeared to be from the Abuja scene revealed lifeless bodies lying on the ground as people yelled for help. Some of the hurt have actually been dealt with and discharged while others continue to receive medical care, cops stated.

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

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

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu expressed his compassion with the victims' families and asked states and pertinent authorities to impose strict crowd control steps.

The recent stampedes in Nigeria have actually raised concerns about precaution in such events. Several children were killed 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 recent catastrophe, the police in Abuja revealed that previous approval must be acquired before such charity events are organized.

The current economic difficulty under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who promised "renewed 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 financial policies that have pressed the regional currency to tape low against the dollar.

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