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ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - A minimum of 13 individuals, consisting of four kids, were eliminated in two separate stampedes in Nigeria as big crowds gathered to gather food and clothing items dispersed at annual Christmas events, the cops stated Saturday.

The two accidents came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populated country, amidst a growing trend by local organizations, churches and people to arrange charity drive ahead of Christmas, as the country has a hard time 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, cops spokesman Josephine Adeh stated in a declaration, adding that more than 1,000 individuals have been evacuated from the church.

There was a crowd surge at one of the church gates, as dozens attempted to get in the premises at around 4 a.m., hours before the present products were to be shared, witnesses said, mentioning that some had been waiting given that the previous night.

"The method they were hurrying to go into, some individuals were falling and some of them were old," Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang said he managed to rescue one infant as his mother struggled in the rise.

Three people passed away in a similar crush later in the southeastern Anambra state's Okija town at a charity occasion arranged by a benefactor, the state cops stated.

"The occasion had actually not even started when the rush started," authorities representative Tochukwu Ikenga said. There might be more deaths recorded as officers examine the incident, he said.

Viral footage that appeared to be from the Abuja scene showed lifeless bodies pushing the ground as individuals yelled for aid. Some of the injured have been dealt with and discharged while others continue to get medical care, police stated.

The church canceled the fundraiser with bags of rice and clothing products still organized within the facilities.

As the church held a wedding after the crowd was left, the agony and sadness stayed palpable even as households and good friends collected for wedding event pictures.

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

The recent stampedes in Nigeria have raised questions about security measures in such occasions. Several kids were killed on Wednesday today when a regional foundation arranged a well-attended funfair to disperse gift products and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.

After the latest catastrophe, the police in Abuja revealed that previous permission needs to be obtained before such charity drive are organized.

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 economic policies that have actually pushed the to tape low against the dollar.

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