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ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - At least 13 people, including 4 children, were eliminated in 2 separate stampedes in Nigeria as large crowds gathered to collect food and clothing products distributed at yearly Christmas occasions, the cops said Saturday.

The 2 mishaps came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populous country, amid a growing trend by regional organizations, churches and people to organize fundraiser ahead of Christmas, as the country fights 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, police representative 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 attempted to enter the premises at around 4 a.m., hours before the gift items were to be shared, witnesses stated, explaining that some had actually been waiting because the previous night.

"The way they were hurrying to go into, some people were falling and a few of them were old," Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang said he handled to rescue one child as his mom had a hard time in the surge.

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

"The occasion had not even started when the rush started," cops representative Tochukwu Ikenga said. There might be more deaths taped as officers investigate the occurrence, he stated.

Viral video footage that appeared to be from the Abuja scene showed lying on the ground as individuals yelled for aid. Some of the injured have been treated and discharged while others continue to receive treatment, authorities stated.

The church canceled the charity drive 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 misery and sadness remained palpable even as friends and families gathered for wedding pictures.

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

The current stampedes in Nigeria have raised concerns about precaution in such occasions. Several children were killed on Wednesday today when a regional structure organized a well-attended funfair to disperse gift items and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.

After the current catastrophe, the authorities in Abuja announced that prior authorization should be gotten before such charity occasions are organized.

The existing economic hardship under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who assured "renewed hope" when he was sworn into office 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 local currency to tape-record low versus the dollar.

Frustration over the cost-of-living crisis has caused mass protests in recent months. In August, at least 20 people were shot dead and numerous others were jailed at protests demanding much better opportunities and jobs for youths.