ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - At least 13 individuals, including four kids, were killed in two separate stampedes in Nigeria as large crowds gathered to gather food and clothes items distributed at annual Christmas occasions, the police stated Saturday.

The two mishaps came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populous country, in the middle of a growing trend by local organizations, churches and individuals to arrange charity drive ahead of Christmas, as the nation has problem 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 declaration, adding that more than 1,000 individuals have actually been left from the church.

There was a crowd rise at one of the church gates, as lots attempted to enter the facilities at around 4 a.m., hours before the gift products were to be shared, witnesses said, explaining that some had actually been waiting given that the previous night.

"The way they were rushing to get in, some individuals were falling and some of them were old," Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang said he handled to save one baby as his mother had a hard time in the surge.

Three individuals died in a similar crush later in the southeastern Anambra state's Okija town at a charity event organized by a benefactor, the state cops stated.

"The event had not even started when the rush began," cops spokesman Tochukwu Ikenga said. There might be more deaths taped as officers investigate the incident, he said.

Viral video footage that appeared to be from the Abuja scene showed lifeless bodies pushing the ground as individuals screamed for assistance. A few of the hurt have been dealt with and released while others continue to get medical care, authorities said.

The church canceled the charity drive with bags of rice and clothing items still arranged within the facilities.

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

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

The recent stampedes in Nigeria have actually raised concerns about precaution in such occasions. Several kids were killed on Wednesday this week when a regional foundation arranged a well-attended funfair to distribute present products and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.

After the most recent catastrophe, the authorities in Abuja announced that previous consent needs to be acquired before such charity events are organized.

The existing financial difficulty 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 government ´ s financial policies that have pushed the regional currency to tape low versus the dollar.

Frustration over the cost-of-living crisis has led to mass demonstrations in current months. In August, at least 20 individuals were shot dead and hundreds of others were jailed at protests demanding much better opportunities and tasks for young people.