ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - A minimum of 13 individuals, including 4 kids, were eliminated in 2 separate stampedes in Nigeria as large crowds gathered to collect food and clothes products distributed at yearly Christmas occasions, the police said Saturday.

The 2 mishaps came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populated country, amid a growing trend by local organizations, churches and individuals to arrange charity drive ahead of Christmas, as the country struggles with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.

Ten people 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, 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 go into the properties at around 4 a.m., hours before the gift products were to be shared, witnesses stated, pointing out that some had actually been waiting since the previous night.

"The way they were hurrying to get in, some individuals were falling and a few of them were old," Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang said he handled to save one baby as his mom struggled in the surge.

Three individuals died in a similar crush later in the southeastern Anambra state's Okija town at a fundraiser arranged by a philanthropist, the state police stated.

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

Viral video that seemed from the Abuja scene showed lifeless bodies resting on the ground as individuals shouted for help. A few of the injured have actually been treated and released while others continue to get treatment, police said.

The church canceled the fundraiser with bags of rice and clothing items still arranged within the premises.

As the church held a marriage event after the crowd was left, the misery and unhappiness stayed palpable even as friends and families gathered for wedding photos.

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

The recent stampedes in Nigeria have raised concerns about precaution in such events. Several children were eliminated on Wednesday this week when a local structure arranged a well-attended funfair to distribute present products and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.

After the most recent disaster, the authorities in Abuja revealed that previous consent must be gotten before such charity occasions are arranged.

The present economic hardship under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who assured "renewed 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 local currency to tape low versus the dollar.

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