ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - At least 13 people, consisting of 4 children, were eliminated in 2 separate stampedes in Nigeria as large crowds gathered to collect food and clothing items distributed at annual Christmas occasions, the authorities stated Saturday.

The two mishaps came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populous nation, in the middle of a growing pattern by regional organizations, churches and individuals to arrange charity events ahead of Christmas, as the nation deals with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.

Ten individuals were killed 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 lots attempted to go into the properties at around 4 a.m., hours before the present products were to be shared, witnesses stated, explaining that some had actually been waiting given that the previous night.

"The way they were rushing to go into, some people were falling and some of them were old," Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang stated he handled to rescue one infant as his mother struggled in the rise.

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

"The event had not even started when the rush began," police spokesman Tochukwu Ikenga stated. There could be more deaths recorded as officers investigate the occurrence, he said.

Viral footage that seemed from the Abuja scene revealed lifeless bodies lying on the ground as people yelled for aid. Some of the hurt have been dealt with and released while others continue to receive treatment, authorities stated.

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

As the church held a marital relationship event after the crowd was left, the pain and unhappiness remained palpable even as friends and families collected for wedding pictures.

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

The recent stampedes in Nigeria have actually raised concerns about precaution in such events. Several children were killed on Wednesday today when a local structure arranged a well-attended funfair to distribute present products and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.

After the most current disaster, the police in Abuja announced that previous consent needs to be acquired before such charity drive are arranged.

The present economic challenge under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who promised "restored 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 regional currency to tape-record low against the dollar.

Frustration over the cost-of-living crisis has caused mass demonstrations in current months. In August, a minimum of 20 people were shot dead and hundreds of others were detained at protests requiring better opportunities and jobs for young individuals.