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ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - At least 13 individuals, including 4 children, were killed in two different stampedes in Nigeria as large crowds gathered to collect food and clothing items distributed at annual Christmas events, the cops said Saturday.

The 2 accidents came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populous nation, amid a growing pattern by regional organizations, churches and individuals to organize fundraiser ahead of Christmas, as the nation has a hard time with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.
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Ten individuals were eliminated in the 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 stated in a statement, adding that more than 1,000 people 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 facilities at around 4 a.m., hours before the gift items were to be shared, witnesses stated, pointing out that some had actually been waiting given that the previous night.

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

Three individuals passed away in a comparable crush later in the southeastern Anambra state's Okija town at a fundraiser arranged by a philanthropist, the state cops said.

"The event had not even started when the rush began," police representative Tochukwu Ikenga said. There might be more deaths tape-recorded as officers investigate the event, he stated.

Viral video that seemed from the Abuja scene showed lifeless bodies resting on the ground as for help. A few of the injured have been treated and discharged while others continue to receive medical care, police stated.
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The church canceled the fundraiser with bags of rice and clothing items still arranged within the properties.

As the church held a marriage event after the crowd was evacuated, the misery and unhappiness stayed palpable even as families and buddies collected for wedding pictures.

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu revealed his sympathy with the victims' families and asked states and appropriate authorities to enforce rigorous crowd control steps.

The current stampedes in Nigeria have actually raised concerns about safety steps in such occasions. Several kids 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 cops in Abuja announced that previous consent must be gotten before such charity occasions are organized.

The current financial difficulty under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who guaranteed "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 government ´ s financial policies that have actually pushed the local currency to tape low versus the dollar.

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