ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - A minimum of 13 individuals, including four children, were killed in 2 different stampedes in Nigeria as large crowds gathered to gather food and clothing products distributed at yearly Christmas occasions, the authorities said Saturday.

The two accidents came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populous country, in the middle of a growing trend by regional companies, churches and individuals to organize fundraiser ahead of Christmas, as the nation has problem with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.

Ten individuals 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 spokesperson Josephine Adeh said in a statement, adding that more than 1,000 individuals have actually been left from the church.

There was a crowd surge at one of the church gates, as dozens tried to get in the facilities at around 4 a.m., hours before the gift items were to be shared, witnesses said, pointing out that some had been waiting given that 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 managed to save one infant as his mom had a hard time in the surge.

Three people died in a comparable crush later on in the southeastern Anambra state's Okija town at a charity drive arranged by a benefactor, the state police said.

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

Viral video footage that seemed from the Abuja scene revealed lifeless bodies resting on the ground as individuals screamed for help. Some of the injured have actually been dealt with and released while others continue to receive healthcare, police stated.

The church canceled the fundraiser with bags of rice and clothing products still set up 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 pictures.

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu revealed his sympathy with the victims' families and asked states and pertinent authorities to impose strict crowd control measures.

The recent stampedes in Nigeria have raised concerns about precaution in such events. Several kids were eliminated on Wednesday today when a local foundation organized a well-attended funfair to disperse present products and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.

After the disaster, the police in Abuja revealed that prior consent must be gotten before such fundraiser are organized.

The existing financial difficulty under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who assured "renewed 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 economic policies that have pushed the regional currency to record low against the dollar.

Frustration over the cost-of-living crisis has led to mass demonstrations in current months. In August, a minimum of 20 people were shot dead and hundreds of others were arrested at demonstrations demanding better opportunities and tasks for youths.