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ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - At least 13 individuals, including four children, were killed in 2 separate stampedes in Nigeria as large crowds gathered to collect food and clothes products dispersed at yearly Christmas occasions, the authorities stated Saturday.

The two accidents came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populous nation, amid a growing trend by regional organizations, churches and individuals to organize charity drive ahead of Christmas, as the nation fights 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, authorities spokesman Josephine Adeh said in a statement, including that more than 1,000 people have been evacuated from the church.

There was a crowd rise at one of the church gates, as lots tried to get in the properties at around 4 a.m., hours before the gift products were to be shared, witnesses stated, pointing out that some had been waiting considering that the previous night.

"The method they were rushing to go into, some individuals were falling and a few of them were old," Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang stated he handled to save one baby as his mom had a hard time in the surge.

Three people passed away in a similar crush later in the southeastern Anambra state's Okija town at a fundraiser organized by a benefactor, the state cops said.

"The occasion had actually not even begun when the rush started," cops spokesman Tochukwu Ikenga stated. There could be more deaths taped as officers investigate the event, he stated.

Viral video footage that appeared to be from the Abuja scene revealed lifeless bodies lying on the ground as people screamed for help. Some of the hurt have actually been dealt with and discharged while others continue to receive treatment, police said.

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

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

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

The recent stampedes in Nigeria have raised questions about precaution in such occasions. Several children were killed on Wednesday this week when a local structure organized a well-attended funfair to distribute gift items and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.

After the most recent catastrophe, the authorities in Abuja revealed that prior approval needs to be gotten before such charity events are organized.

The existing financial hardship under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who assured "restored hope" when he was sworn into workplace in May 2023, is blamed on surging inflation that is at a 28-year high and the government ´ s financial policies that have actually pressed the local currency to record low against the dollar.

Frustration over the cost-of-living crisis has caused mass demonstrations in recent months. In August, at least 20 individuals were shot dead and hundreds of others were detained at protests requiring much better chances and jobs for young individuals.