ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - At least 13 people, consisting of four children, were eliminated in 2 different stampedes in Nigeria as big crowds gathered to gather food and clothes products distributed at yearly Christmas events, the authorities said Saturday.

The two accidents came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populous nation, amidst a growing trend by local organizations, churches and individuals to arrange fundraiser ahead of Christmas, as the country battles 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, authorities spokesman Josephine Adeh said 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 premises at around 4 a.m., hours before the gift products were to be shared, witnesses said, pointing out that some had actually been waiting since the previous night.

"The way they were hurrying to go into, some individuals were falling and some of them were old," Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang said he managed to save one baby as his mother had a hard time in the rise.

Three individuals died in a comparable crush later on in the southeastern Anambra state's Okija town at a fundraiser organized by a benefactor, the state police said.

"The occasion had not even begun when the rush began," police representative Tochukwu Ikenga said. There might be more deaths tape-recorded as officers examine the occurrence, he said.

Viral video that appeared to be from the Abuja scene showed lifeless bodies lying on the ground as individuals yelled for help. Some of the hurt have been dealt with and released while others continue to get treatment, authorities stated.

The church canceled the charity drive with bags of rice and clothing products still organized within the premises.

As the church held a wedding after the crowd was left, the misery and unhappiness stayed palpable even as families and pals gathered for wedding pictures.

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu expressed 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 security measures in such occasions. Several children were eliminated on Wednesday this week when a regional structure arranged a well-attended funfair to disperse gift items and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.

After the most recent disaster, the police in Abuja announced that prior consent should be gotten before such charity occasions are arranged.

The current financial difficulty 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 government ´ s financial policies that have actually pressed the regional currency to record low versus the dollar.

Frustration over the cost-of-living crisis has actually caused mass demonstrations in current months. In August, at least 20 individuals were shot dead and numerous others were detained at protests requiring much better opportunities and tasks for young people.