ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - A minimum of 13 individuals, including 4 children, were eliminated in 2 separate stampedes in Nigeria as large crowds collected to gather food and clothes products dispersed at annual Christmas events, the authorities stated Saturday.

The 2 accidents came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populated nation, amid a growing trend by local companies, churches and people to organize charity occasions ahead of Christmas, as the nation has a hard time with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.

Ten people were killed in the 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, adding that more than 1,000 people have actually been left from the church.

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

"The way they were rushing to go into, some individuals were falling and some of them were old," Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang stated he handled to save one baby as his mother had a hard time in the surge.

Three individuals passed away in a comparable crush later in the southeastern Anambra state's Okija town at a charity occasion arranged by a philanthropist, the state police said.

"The event had not even begun when the rush started," police spokesperson Tochukwu Ikenga said. There might be more deaths taped as officers examine the occurrence, he stated.

Viral footage that appeared to be from the Abuja scene showed lifeless bodies lying on the ground as people yelled for assistance. A few of the injured have actually been treated and discharged while others continue to receive medical care, police stated.

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

As the church held a wedding after the crowd was left, the agony and unhappiness remained palpable even as friends and families collected for wedding photos.

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu expressed his sympathy with the victims' families and asked states and relevant authorities to impose rigorous crowd control steps.

The current stampedes in Nigeria have actually raised questions about security steps in such occasions. Several children were killed on Wednesday this week when a local foundation arranged a well-attended funfair to distribute present products and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.

After the newest disaster, the authorities in Abuja announced that prior permission should be gotten before such charity occasions are arranged.

The existing financial difficulty under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who promised "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 financial policies that have pressed the local currency to record low versus the dollar.

Frustration over the cost-of-living crisis has resulted in mass demonstrations in recent months. In August, a minimum of 20 individuals were shot dead and numerous others were detained at protests demanding much better opportunities and jobs for young people.