ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - At least 13 people, consisting of four kids, were eliminated in 2 separate stampedes in Nigeria as big crowds collected to gather food and clothes items distributed at annual Christmas occasions, the authorities stated Saturday.
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The two accidents came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populated nation, in the middle of a growing trend by regional organizations, churches and people to arrange charity drive ahead of Christmas, as the country has problem with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a .
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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 representative Josephine Adeh said in a statement, including that more than 1,000 people have been evacuated from the church.
There was a crowd rise at one of the church gates, as lots tried to get in the facilities at around 4 a.m., hours before the gift products were to be shared, witnesses stated, pointing out that some had been waiting since the previous night.
"The way they were rushing to enter, some individuals were falling and a few of them were old," Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang said he managed to save one baby as his mom struggled in the surge.
Three people passed away in a comparable crush later in the southeastern Anambra state's Okija town at a fundraiser organized by a philanthropist, the state cops said.
"The occasion had actually not even begun when the rush started," authorities spokesperson Tochukwu Ikenga stated. There might be more deaths tape-recorded as officers investigate the occurrence, he stated.
Viral footage that seemed from the Abuja scene revealed lifeless bodies pushing the ground as people shouted for help. A few of the hurt have actually been dealt with and released while others continue to receive treatment, cops stated.
The church canceled the charity event with bags of rice and clothes items still arranged within the premises.
As the church held a wedding after the crowd was left, the misery and unhappiness remained 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 relevant authorities to implement strict crowd control steps.
The current stampedes in Nigeria have raised concerns about safety measures in such occasions. Several kids were killed on Wednesday this week when a local foundation organized a well-attended funfair to distribute gift products and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.
After the latest catastrophe, the police in Abuja revealed that prior approval must be gotten before such charity events are organized.
The current financial difficulty under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who assured "restored hope" when he was sworn into office in May 2023, is blamed on surging inflation that is at a 28-year high and the federal government ´ s financial policies that have actually pushed the local currency to record low against the dollar.
Frustration over the cost-of-living crisis has resulted in mass demonstrations in current months. In August, a minimum of 20 people were shot dead and numerous others were apprehended at protests requiring much better chances and jobs for youths.
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