ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - A minimum of 13 people, including four kids, were killed in two different stampedes in Nigeria as big crowds gathered to collect food and clothes items distributed at yearly Christmas occasions, the cops said Saturday.

The two accidents came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populous country, amid a growing pattern by regional companies, churches and individuals to arrange charity occasions ahead of Christmas, as the country has a hard time 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 spokesman Josephine Adeh said in a statement, adding that more than 1,000 people have actually been left from the church.

There was a crowd rise at one of the church gates, as lots attempted to get in the premises at around 4 a.m., hours before the present items were to be shared, witnesses said, pointing out that some had actually been waiting because the previous night.

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

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

"The occasion had actually not even begun when the rush began," authorities spokesman Tochukwu Ikenga stated. There could be more deaths tape-recorded as officers examine the occurrence, he stated.

Viral video that appeared to be from the Abuja scene showed lifeless bodies pushing the ground as individuals screamed for aid. A few of the hurt have actually been dealt with and discharged while others continue to receive healthcare, authorities said.

The church canceled the charity event with bags of rice and clothes items still organized within the properties.

As the church held a marriage event after the crowd was left, the agony and sadness stayed palpable even as friends and families gathered for wedding images.

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

The recent stampedes in Nigeria have actually raised concerns about safety steps in such occasions. Several children were eliminated on Wednesday today when a local foundation arranged a well-attended funfair to disperse gift items and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.

After the most recent disaster, the authorities in Abuja revealed that previous approval should be gotten before such fundraiser are arranged.

The existing economic challenge under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who promised "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 federal government ´ s financial policies that have pushed the local currency to tape low against the dollar.

Frustration over the cost-of-living crisis has caused mass protests in recent months. In August, a minimum of 20 individuals were shot dead and numerous others were apprehended at demonstrations demanding much better chances and jobs for youths.