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ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - A minimum of 13 people, consisting of 4 kids, were killed in two different stampedes in Nigeria as large crowds collected to gather food and clothes items distributed at yearly Christmas occasions, the cops stated Saturday.

The 2 mishaps came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populated country, amidst a growing trend by local companies, churches and individuals to organize charity drive ahead of Christmas, as the nation deals with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.
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Ten individuals were eliminated in the first stampede in the early hours at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, an upmarket part of the capital, Abuja, authorities spokesperson 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 dozens attempted to enter the premises at around 4 a.m., hours before the gift items were to be shared, witnesses said, pointing out that some had actually been waiting because 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 stated he managed to save one infant as his mom struggled in the rise.

Three people passed away in a comparable crush later in the southeastern Anambra state's Okija town at a charity occasion organized by a benefactor, the state authorities said.

"The occasion had actually not even started when the rush began," police spokesperson Tochukwu Ikenga said. There might be more deaths tape-recorded as officers examine the occurrence, he stated.

Viral footage that seemed from the Abuja scene revealed lifeless bodies lying on the ground as individuals screamed for aid. Some of the hurt have actually been treated and released while others continue to receive treatment, police stated.

The church canceled the charity event with bags of rice and clothes products still arranged within the properties.

As the church held a wedding after the crowd was evacuated, the misery and sadness 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 relevant authorities to enforce strict crowd control steps.

The current stampedes in Nigeria have actually about precaution in such occasions. Several kids were killed on Wednesday this week when a regional foundation organized a well-attended funfair to disperse gift items and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.

After the current disaster, the authorities in Abuja revealed that prior consent should be gotten before such charity drive are organized.
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The current financial difficulty under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who promised "restored hope" when he was sworn into office in May 2023, is blamed on rising inflation that is at a 28-year high and the federal government ´ s financial policies that have actually pressed the local currency to tape low against the dollar.

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