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ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - At least 13 people, including 4 kids, were eliminated in 2 different stampedes in Nigeria as large crowds collected to collect food and clothing items dispersed at annual Christmas occasions, the cops said Saturday.
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The 2 mishaps came days after another such in Africa ´ s most populous nation, in the middle of a growing pattern by local organizations, churches and people to organize charity drive ahead of Christmas, as the nation battles with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.

Ten people were eliminated 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 representative Josephine Adeh said in a statement, including that more than 1,000 individuals have been left from the church.

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

"The method they were hurrying to enter, some individuals were falling and some of them were old," Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang stated he handled to save one baby as his mother struggled in the surge.

Three individuals died in a comparable crush later in the southeastern Anambra state's Okija town at a charity drive organized by a benefactor, the state authorities stated.

"The event had actually not even started when the rush began," police representative Tochukwu Ikenga stated. There could be more deaths recorded as officers examine the event, he stated.

Viral footage that appeared to be from the Abuja scene revealed lifeless bodies pushing the ground as people shouted for assistance. Some of the hurt have actually been treated and discharged while others continue to get treatment, police stated.

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

As the church held a wedding after the crowd was evacuated, the agony and sadness stayed palpable even as friends and families collected for wedding images.

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu expressed his sympathy with the victims' households and asked states and pertinent authorities to implement rigorous crowd control procedures.

The recent stampedes in Nigeria have raised questions about security measures in such events. Several children were eliminated on Wednesday today when a regional foundation arranged a well-attended funfair to disperse gift items and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.

After the current disaster, the cops in Abuja revealed that previous consent needs to be obtained before such charity events are organized.

The existing economic hardship under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who promised "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 pressed the regional currency to tape-record low versus the dollar.

Frustration over the cost-of-living crisis has resulted in mass demonstrations 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 young individuals.
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