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ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - At least 13 people, consisting of four kids, were killed in two different stampedes in Nigeria as big crowds collected to gather food and clothing items distributed at yearly Christmas events, the cops stated Saturday.

The 2 accidents came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populous nation, amidst a growing trend by local organizations, churches and people to organize charity drive ahead of Christmas, as the nation fights 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, authorities spokesperson Josephine Adeh said in a declaration, 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 dozens tried to get in the premises at around 4 a.m., hours before the present products were to be shared, witnesses stated, explaining that some had been waiting since the previous night.

"The way they were rushing to enter, some individuals were falling and some of them were old," Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang said he managed to save one child 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 fundraiser organized by a philanthropist, the state authorities said.

"The occasion had not even begun when the rush began," cops representative Tochukwu Ikenga said. There could be more deaths recorded as officers investigate the occurrence, he said.

Viral footage that seemed from the Abuja scene showed lifeless bodies lying on the ground as individuals screamed for assistance. Some of the injured have been dealt with and released while others continue to get treatment, authorities stated.

The church canceled the charity drive with bags of rice and clothes products still set up within the properties.

As the church held a marriage event after the crowd was left, the misery and sadness remained palpable even as friends and families collected for wedding event photos.

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu expressed his sympathy with the victims' families and asked states and appropriate authorities to enforce rigorous crowd control procedures.

The current stampedes in Nigeria have raised questions about precaution in such events. Several children were killed on Wednesday today when a local structure organized a well-attended funfair to items and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.

After the most recent disaster, the police in Abuja announced that previous consent must be obtained before such fundraiser are organized.

The current financial difficulty under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who guaranteed "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 economic policies that have actually pushed the local currency to tape low versus the dollar.

Frustration over the cost-of-living crisis has resulted in mass protests in recent months. In August, a minimum of 20 people were shot dead and numerous others were arrested at demonstrations demanding better chances and tasks for youths.