ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - A minimum of 13 individuals, of four children, were killed in two separate stampedes in Nigeria as big crowds collected to gather food and clothing items distributed at yearly Christmas occasions, the authorities stated Saturday.
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The two accidents came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populous nation, amidst a growing trend by local organizations, churches and people to arrange charity drive ahead of Christmas, as the nation fights with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.
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Ten individuals 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, cops spokesman Josephine Adeh said in a declaration, including that more than 1,000 people have been left from the church.
There was a crowd surge at one of the church gates, as lots tried to go into the properties at around 4 a.m., hours before the present items were to be shared, witnesses stated, explaining that some had actually been waiting since the previous night.
"The way they were hurrying to get in, some people were falling and some of them were old," Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang stated he managed to save one child as his mom struggled in the surge.
Three people passed away in a similar crush later in the southeastern Anambra state's Okija town at a fundraiser arranged by a benefactor, the state cops said.
"The event had not even started when the rush started," cops spokesperson Tochukwu Ikenga stated. There might be more deaths recorded as officers examine the incident, he said.
Viral footage that seemed from the Abuja scene revealed lifeless bodies pushing the ground as individuals shouted for assistance. Some of the injured have actually been treated and discharged while others continue to receive healthcare, cops stated.
The church canceled the fundraiser with bags of rice and clothing items still arranged within the facilities.
As the church held a marriage event after the crowd was left, the pain and unhappiness remained palpable even as friends and families collected for wedding pictures.
Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu expressed his compassion with the victims' households and asked states and appropriate authorities to enforce strict crowd control steps.
The current stampedes in Nigeria have raised concerns about precaution in such occasions. Several children were eliminated on Wednesday this week when a regional structure organized a well-attended funfair to distribute present products and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.
After the current catastrophe, the police in Abuja revealed that prior authorization must be acquired before such fundraiser are organized.
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The present financial difficulty under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who assured "restored 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 financial policies that have pushed the local currency to tape-record low versus the dollar.
Frustration over the cost-of-living crisis has caused mass demonstrations in recent months. In August, at least 20 individuals were shot dead and numerous others were apprehended at demonstrations requiring better opportunities and tasks for youths.