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ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - A minimum of 13 people, consisting of four children, were killed in 2 separate stampedes in Nigeria as big crowds collected to gather food and clothing products distributed at annual Christmas events, the authorities stated Saturday.

The 2 accidents came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populous country, in the middle of a growing trend by regional organizations, churches and individuals to arrange fundraiser ahead of Christmas, as the nation struggles 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, police spokesperson Josephine Adeh said in a statement, including that more than 1,000 people have been evacuated from the church.

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

"The method they were hurrying to go into, some people were falling and some of them were old," Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang said he managed to rescue one baby as his mother had a hard time in the surge.

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

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

Viral footage that seemed from the Abuja scene showed lifeless bodies resting on the ground as people yelled for aid. Some of the hurt have been treated and while others continue to get treatment, police said.

The church canceled the charity drive with bags of rice and clothes products still organized within the premises.

As the church held a marital relationship ceremony after the crowd was evacuated, the pain and unhappiness stayed palpable even as friends and families gathered for wedding event images.

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu expressed his sympathy with the victims' households and asked states and appropriate authorities to implement rigorous crowd control measures.

The recent stampedes in Nigeria have actually raised questions about security measures in such occasions. Several kids were killed on Wednesday today when a local structure organized a well-attended funfair to disperse gift items and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.

After the current catastrophe, the authorities in Abuja revealed that previous authorization should be acquired before such charity events are organized.

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

Frustration over the cost-of-living crisis has actually caused mass protests in current months. In August, at least 20 individuals were shot dead and hundreds of others were jailed at protests requiring much better opportunities and jobs for youths.