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ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - A minimum of 13 individuals, consisting of 4 kids, were eliminated in two separate stampedes in Nigeria as large crowds collected to collect food and clothes items distributed at yearly Christmas occasions, the authorities stated Saturday.

The 2 accidents came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populated country, amidst a growing trend by local organizations, churches and individuals to arrange charity drive ahead of Christmas, as the nation fights with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.
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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, police representative Josephine Adeh said in a statement, adding that more than 1,000 individuals have actually been evacuated from the church.

There was a crowd surge at one of the church gates, as lots attempted to enter the properties at around 4 a.m., hours before the present items were to be shared, witnesses said, mentioning that some had been waiting given that the previous night.
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"The way they were rushing to enter, some individuals were falling and some of them were old," Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang stated he managed to rescue one infant as his mom struggled in the rise.

Three people passed away in a comparable crush later on in the southeastern Anambra state's at a charity drive arranged by a philanthropist, the state police said.

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

Viral video that seemed from the Abuja scene showed lifeless bodies lying on the ground as people screamed for help. A few of the injured have been treated and discharged while others continue to receive treatment, police stated.

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

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

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

The current stampedes in Nigeria have raised concerns about security measures in such events. Several children were eliminated on Wednesday this week when a regional structure arranged a well-attended funfair to disperse gift items and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.

After the most recent disaster, the cops in Abuja revealed that previous consent must be gotten before such charity drive are arranged.

The current economic difficulty under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who assured "restored hope" when he was sworn into office in May 2023, is blamed on surging inflation that is at a 28-year high and the government ´ s financial policies that have pushed the local currency to tape-record low versus the dollar.

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