ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - A minimum of 13 people, consisting of four kids, were eliminated in two separate stampedes in Nigeria as large crowds collected to gather food and clothing items distributed at yearly Christmas events, the authorities stated Saturday.

The two mishaps came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populous country, amid a growing trend by local companies, churches and people to organize fundraiser ahead of Christmas, as the nation deals with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.

Ten individuals were eliminated in the very first stampede in the early hours at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, an upmarket part of the capital, Abuja, authorities spokesman Josephine Adeh said in a statement, including that more than 1,000 individuals have actually been evacuated from the church.

There was a crowd rise at one of the church gates, as lots attempted to go into the premises at around 4 a.m., hours before the gift items were to be shared, witnesses stated, explaining that some had actually been waiting since the previous night.

"The method they were hurrying to go into, some people were falling and a few of them were old," Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang stated he handled to save one infant as his mother had a hard time in the rise.

Three people died in a comparable crush later in the southeastern Anambra state's Okija town at a charity drive organized by a benefactor, the state authorities stated.

"The event had actually not even begun when the rush started," authorities spokesman Tochukwu Ikenga stated. There could be more deaths taped as officers examine the incident, he said.

Viral video footage that appeared to be from the Abuja scene showed lifeless bodies resting on the ground as individuals yelled for help. Some of the injured have actually been treated and discharged while others continue to get medical care, authorities stated.

The church canceled the charity drive with bags of rice and clothing items still organized within the properties.

As the church held a marriage ceremony after the crowd was left, the agony and unhappiness remained palpable even as friends and families gathered for wedding event pictures.

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu revealed his sympathy with the victims' families and asked states and pertinent authorities to implement stringent crowd control steps.

The recent stampedes in Nigeria have actually raised concerns about precaution in such occasions. Several kids were eliminated on Wednesday this week when a regional foundation arranged a well-attended funfair to disperse present products and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.

After the most current catastrophe, the cops in Abuja revealed that prior authorization should be acquired before such charity drive are organized.

The existing economic challenge under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who guaranteed "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 regional currency to tape low against the dollar.

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