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

The 2 accidents came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populated country, in the middle of a growing trend by regional companies, churches and people to arrange charity events ahead of Christmas, as the nation battles 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 declaration, including that more than 1,000 individuals have been left from the church.

There was a crowd rise at one of the church gates, as lots attempted to go into the properties at around 4 a.m., hours before the present items were to be shared, witnesses said, explaining that some had actually been waiting because the previous night.

"The method they were rushing to enter, some people were falling and a few 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 rise.

Three people died in a similar crush later on in the southeastern Anambra state's Okija town at a fundraiser organized by a benefactor, the state cops said.

"The occasion had actually not even begun when the rush started," cops spokesperson Tochukwu Ikenga said. There could 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 resting on the ground as individuals screamed for assistance. A few of the injured have been treated and released while others continue to get treatment, police said.

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

As the church held a wedding after the crowd was evacuated, the pain and unhappiness remained palpable even as families and good friends gathered for wedding pictures.

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu revealed his sympathy with the victims' households and asked states and pertinent authorities to implement stringent crowd control procedures.

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

After the current catastrophe, the cops in Abuja revealed that prior approval should be gotten before such fundraiser are organized.

The current economic difficulty 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 government ´ s economic policies that have pressed the regional currency to tape-record low against the dollar.

Frustration over the cost-of-living crisis has actually caused mass demonstrations in recent months. In August, a minimum of 20 people were shot dead and hundreds of others were arrested at protests requiring better chances and tasks for youths.