ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - A minimum of 13 individuals, including four children, were eliminated in 2 different stampedes in Nigeria as large crowds gathered to collect food and clothing items distributed at annual Christmas occasions, the cops stated Saturday.

The two accidents came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populous country, in the middle of a growing trend by regional companies, churches and individuals to organize charity events ahead of Christmas, as the nation battles 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 declaration, including that more than 1,000 people have actually been evacuated 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 gift items were to be shared, witnesses stated, explaining that some had been waiting given that the previous night.

"The way they were rushing to get in, some individuals 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 surge.

Three people passed away in a similar crush later in the southeastern Anambra state's Okija town at a charity event organized by a philanthropist, the state authorities said.

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

Viral footage that seemed from the Abuja scene revealed lifeless bodies pushing the ground as people screamed for help. Some of the hurt have been dealt with and released while others continue to receive medical care, police said.

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

As the church held a wedding after the crowd was left, the agony and sadness remained palpable even as households and buddies collected for wedding event images.

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu revealed his compassion with the victims' households and asked states and appropriate authorities to implement strict crowd control steps.

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

After the current disaster, the authorities in Abuja announced that prior permission must be gotten before such charity events are arranged.

The present financial hardship under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who guaranteed "renewed hope" when he was sworn into workplace in May 2023, is blamed on rising inflation that is at a 28-year high and the federal government ´ s financial policies that have pushed the local 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 numerous others were apprehended at demonstrations requiring much better opportunities and jobs for youths.