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ABUJA, (AP) - At least 13 people, consisting of 4 children, were killed in two separate stampedes in Nigeria as large crowds collected to collect food and clothing products distributed at annual Christmas occasions, the cops said Saturday.
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The two mishaps came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populated country, amidst a growing trend by regional companies, churches and individuals to organize charity drive ahead of Christmas, as the country deals with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.
Ten individuals were eliminated in the first stampede in the early hours at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, an upmarket part of the capital, Abuja, authorities spokesperson Josephine Adeh stated in a statement, adding that more than 1,000 individuals have been left from the church.
There was a crowd surge at one of the church gates, as dozens tried to get in the facilities at around 4 a.m., hours before the gift items were to be shared, witnesses stated, explaining that some had been waiting since the previous night.
"The method they were rushing to enter, some people were falling and a few of them were old," Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang said he handled to save one infant as his mom struggled in the rise.
Three individuals died in a comparable crush later on in the southeastern Anambra state's Okija town at a fundraiser arranged by a philanthropist, the state authorities said.
"The event had not even begun when the rush started," cops spokesperson Tochukwu Ikenga stated. There could be more deaths taped as officers investigate the occurrence, he stated.
Viral video that seemed from the Abuja scene revealed lifeless bodies pushing the ground as people yelled for aid. Some of the hurt have been treated and discharged while others continue to get treatment, cops said.
The church canceled the charity drive with bags of rice and clothing products still arranged within the facilities.
As the church held a wedding after the crowd was evacuated, the agony and sadness remained palpable even as friends and families gathered for wedding event pictures.
Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu revealed his compassion with the victims' households and asked states and appropriate authorities to impose rigorous crowd control procedures.
The current stampedes in Nigeria have raised questions about safety measures in such events. Several kids were eliminated on Wednesday this week when a regional foundation organized a well-attended funfair to distribute present items and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.
After the most recent disaster, the authorities in Abuja announced that prior authorization should be gotten before such fundraiser are organized.
The existing financial hardship under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who guaranteed "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 federal government ´ s financial policies that have actually pushed the local currency to tape low against the dollar.
Frustration over the cost-of-living crisis has actually led to mass protests in recent months. In August, at least 20 people were shot dead and hundreds of others were jailed at protests demanding better opportunities and tasks for youths.
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