ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - A minimum of 13 individuals, including 4 children, were killed in 2 separate stampedes in Nigeria as big crowds gathered to gather food and clothing items distributed at yearly Christmas occasions, the cops said Saturday.

The 2 accidents came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populated country, in the middle of a growing pattern by local organizations, churches and individuals to organize fundraiser ahead of Christmas, as the nation struggles 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, authorities representative Josephine Adeh said in a statement, adding that more than 1,000 people have been evacuated from the church.

There was a crowd rise at one of the church gates, as dozens tried to get in the facilities at around 4 a.m., hours before the gift products were to be shared, witnesses stated, mentioning that some had been waiting because the previous night.

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

Three individuals died in a comparable crush later in the southeastern Anambra state's Okija town at a charity drive organized by a benefactor, the state police said.

"The event had not even started when the rush started," authorities spokesperson Tochukwu Ikenga stated. There might be more deaths taped as officers examine the event, he stated.

Viral video footage that appeared to be from the Abuja scene revealed lifeless bodies pushing the ground as people shouted for help. Some of the injured have been treated and discharged while others continue to receive medical care, police said.

The church canceled the fundraiser with bags of rice and clothes items still set up within the premises.

As the church held a marriage event after the crowd was evacuated, the pain and unhappiness remained palpable even as households and pals gathered for wedding event photos.

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu revealed his sympathy with the victims' households and asked states and appropriate authorities to enforce stringent crowd control steps.

The recent stampedes in Nigeria have raised questions about safety measures in such events. Several kids were killed on Wednesday today when a regional structure organized a well-attended funfair to distribute gift items and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.

After the most recent disaster, the police in Abuja revealed that prior consent must be acquired before such charity drive are organized.

The existing economic difficulty under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who assured "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 economic policies that have actually pressed the local currency to record low against the dollar.

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