ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - At least 13 people, consisting of four children, were eliminated in two different stampedes in Nigeria as large crowds collected to gather food and clothes items distributed at yearly Christmas occasions, the police said Saturday.
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The 2 mishaps came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populated nation, amid a growing pattern by regional companies, churches and people to arrange charity drive ahead of Christmas, as the country deals with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.

Ten individuals 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 statement, adding that more than 1,000 individuals have actually been evacuated from the church.

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

"The way they were rushing to get in, some people were falling and a few of them were old," Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang stated he managed to rescue one child as his mom struggled in the rise.

Three individuals passed away in a similar crush later on in the southeastern Anambra state's Okija town at a charity drive organized by a philanthropist, the state police stated.

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

Viral video footage that seemed from the Abuja scene revealed lifeless bodies lying on the ground as people yelled for help. A few of the hurt have been treated and released while others continue to receive treatment, police said.

The church canceled the fundraiser with bags of rice and clothes items still arranged within the facilities.

As the church held a wedding after the crowd was evacuated, the agony and unhappiness remained palpable even as households and buddies gathered for wedding event pictures.

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu expressed his compassion with the victims' families and asked states and relevant authorities to impose strict crowd control measures.

The recent stampedes in Nigeria have actually raised questions about security measures in such occasions. Several children were eliminated on Wednesday today when a local foundation arranged a well-attended funfair to distribute present and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.

After the latest catastrophe, the cops in Abuja announced that prior permission should be acquired before such charity drive are arranged.
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The current economic challenge under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who promised "restored 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 pressed the regional currency to record low against 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 hundreds of others were arrested at demonstrations requiring much better opportunities and tasks for youths.
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