ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - A minimum of 13 individuals, consisting of four children, were killed in 2 different stampedes in Nigeria as big crowds gathered to gather food and clothing products distributed at yearly Christmas events, the police 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 local organizations, churches and individuals to arrange charity drive 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 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 stated in a declaration, adding that more than 1,000 people have been evacuated from the church.

There was a crowd surge at one of the church gates, as dozens attempted to get in 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 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 stated he handled to save one baby as his mother struggled in the rise.

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

Viral footage that seemed from the Abuja scene revealed lifeless bodies lying on the ground as individuals screamed for aid. Some of the injured have been treated and discharged while others continue to get healthcare, authorities said.

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

As the church held a wedding after the crowd was left, the agony and unhappiness stayed palpable even as friends and families collected for wedding event photos.

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

The recent stampedes in Nigeria have actually raised questions about security steps in such occasions. Several children were killed on Wednesday today 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 approval needs to be gotten before such charity events are arranged.

The existing economic difficulty under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who guaranteed "restored hope" when he was sworn into workplace in May 2023, is blamed on rising inflation that is at a 28-year high and the government ´ s economic policies that have pushed the regional currency to tape low against the dollar.

Frustration over the cost-of-living crisis has resulted in mass demonstrations in current months. In August, at least 20 people were shot dead and numerous others were arrested at protests demanding better chances and jobs for young people.