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ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - At least 13 individuals, including four children, were killed in 2 different stampedes in Nigeria as big crowds gathered to gather food and clothing products dispersed at annual Christmas events, the authorities stated Saturday.
The 2 accidents came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populated country, amid a growing trend by regional organizations, churches and individuals to organize fundraiser ahead of Christmas, as the nation battles with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.
Ten individuals 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, authorities representative Josephine Adeh said in a statement, including that more than 1,000 people have been left from the church.
There was a crowd rise at one of the church gates, as dozens tried to go into the properties at around 4 a.m., hours before the gift products were to be shared, witnesses said, mentioning that some had been waiting since the previous night.
"The method they were rushing to get in, some people were falling and a few of them were old," Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang said he managed to save one infant as his mother had a hard time in the rise.
Three people died in a similar crush later on in the state's Okija town at a fundraiser organized by a benefactor, the state authorities stated.
"The event had not even begun when the rush began," authorities spokesman Tochukwu Ikenga said. There could be more deaths recorded as officers examine the event, he said.
Viral footage that appeared to be from the Abuja scene showed lifeless bodies pushing the ground as individuals shouted for help. A few of the injured have been dealt with and discharged while others continue to receive healthcare, police stated.
The church canceled the charity occasion with bags of rice and clothes products still arranged within the properties.
As the church held a marriage event after the crowd was evacuated, the misery and unhappiness stayed palpable even as families and pals gathered for wedding event pictures.
Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu expressed his compassion with the victims' households and asked states and relevant authorities to implement rigorous crowd control steps.
The recent stampedes in Nigeria have actually raised questions about safety measures in such events. Several kids were killed on Wednesday this week when a local structure arranged a well-attended funfair to disperse present items and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.
After the current disaster, the cops in Abuja revealed that prior approval must be gotten before such charity occasions are arranged.
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The present financial difficulty under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who assured "restored 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 pushed the local currency to tape-record low versus the dollar.
Frustration over the cost-of-living crisis has actually caused mass demonstrations in current months. In August, a minimum of 20 people were shot dead and hundreds of others were arrested at protests requiring better opportunities and tasks for young people.
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