ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - At least 13 people, consisting of four children, were killed in 2 separate stampedes in Nigeria as big crowds gathered to collect food and clothing products distributed at yearly Christmas events, the authorities stated Saturday.
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The 2 accidents came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populous country, amidst a growing pattern by regional companies, churches and people to organize charity drive ahead of Christmas, as the nation deals 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 Church in Maitama, an upmarket part of the capital, Abuja, authorities spokesman Josephine Adeh stated in a declaration, adding that more than 1,000 individuals have actually been evacuated 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 products were to be shared, witnesses said, explaining that some had actually been waiting because the previous night.
"The way they were rushing to enter, some people were falling and some 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 individuals died in a comparable crush later on in the southeastern Anambra state's Okija town at a charity drive arranged by a philanthropist, the state cops stated.
"The occasion had not even started when the rush began," police spokesman Tochukwu Ikenga said. There could be more deaths tape-recorded as officers examine the incident, he said.
Viral video footage that appeared to be from the Abuja scene revealed lifeless bodies resting on the ground as people yelled for assistance. A few of the hurt have been dealt with and discharged while others continue to get medical care, cops said.
The church canceled the fundraiser with bags of rice and clothing items still arranged within the properties.
As the church held a marital relationship ceremony after the crowd was evacuated, the pain and unhappiness remained palpable even as families and friends gathered for wedding event images.
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Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu expressed his compassion with the victims' households and asked states and relevant authorities to impose strict crowd control measures.
The current stampedes in Nigeria have actually raised concerns about safety steps in such occasions. Several children were eliminated on Wednesday today when a regional foundation organized a well-attended funfair to disperse gift products and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.
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After the most recent catastrophe, the cops in Abuja revealed that previous consent must be acquired before such charity drive 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 surging inflation that is at a 28-year high and the federal 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 led to mass protests in recent months. In August, at least 20 individuals were shot dead and hundreds of others were detained at protests requiring better opportunities and jobs for youths.