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ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - At least 13 people, consisting of four children, were eliminated in two different stampedes in Nigeria as big crowds collected to collect food and clothes items distributed at yearly Christmas occasions, the police stated Saturday.
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The 2 mishaps came days after another such in Africa ´ s most populated country, amidst a growing trend by local organizations, churches and individuals to organize fundraiser ahead of Christmas, as the nation struggles with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.

Ten people 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, cops representative Josephine Adeh stated in a declaration, including that more than 1,000 people have been evacuated from the church.

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

"The way they were hurrying to go into, some people were falling and a few of them were old," Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang said he handled to rescue one baby as his mom had a hard time in the rise.

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

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

Viral footage that seemed from the Abuja scene revealed lifeless bodies resting on the ground as people shouted for assistance. Some of the injured have actually been treated and released while others continue to receive medical care, police stated.

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

As the church held a wedding after the crowd was left, the pain and unhappiness remained palpable even as families and good friends gathered for wedding images.

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu expressed his compassion with the victims' families and asked states and pertinent authorities to implement rigorous crowd control measures.

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

After the current catastrophe, the authorities in Abuja announced that previous consent must be acquired before such charity drive are arranged.

The present economic difficulty under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who assured "restored hope" when he was sworn into workplace in May 2023, is blamed on rising inflation that is at a 28-year high and the government ´ s economic policies that have pushed the regional currency to tape low versus the dollar.

Frustration over the cost-of-living crisis has led to mass protests in current months. In August, at least 20 people were shot dead and numerous others were apprehended at demonstrations requiring better chances and jobs for youths.
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