ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - At least 13 individuals, including 4 kids, were killed in two separate stampedes in Nigeria as large crowds collected to gather food and clothing products dispersed at annual Christmas occasions, the cops stated Saturday.
The two mishaps came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populated nation, amidst a growing trend by regional companies, churches and people to organize fundraiser ahead of Christmas, as the country fights with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.
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Ten people 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, cops representative Josephine Adeh stated in a statement, adding that more than 1,000 people have been left from the church.
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There was a crowd rise at one of the church gates, as lots tried to enter the properties at around 4 a.m., hours before the gift products were to be shared, witnesses said, mentioning that some had actually been waiting since the previous night.
"The method they were hurrying to go into, some individuals were falling and some of them were old," Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang said he handled to save one infant as his mother struggled in the surge.
Three people passed away in a similar crush later on in the southeastern Anambra state's Okija town at a charity drive organized by a benefactor, the state cops stated.
"The event had actually not even started when the rush began," authorities spokesperson Tochukwu Ikenga said. There might be more deaths recorded as officers examine the occurrence, he said.
Viral video footage that appeared to be from the Abuja scene revealed lifeless bodies resting on the ground as people yelled for aid. Some of the hurt have actually been treated and discharged while others continue to receive treatment, police stated.
The church canceled the charity drive with bags of rice and clothing items still arranged 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 collected for wedding pictures.
Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu expressed his compassion with the victims' families and asked states and pertinent authorities to impose stringent crowd control procedures.
The current stampedes in Nigeria have actually raised questions about security procedures in such events. Several children were killed on Wednesday today when a regional structure organized a well-attended funfair to distribute present products and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.
After the most recent catastrophe, the police in Abuja announced that prior consent needs to be obtained before such charity drive are organized.
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The existing financial difficulty under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who promised "renewed hope" when he was sworn into office in May 2023, is blamed on surging inflation that is at a 28-year high and the government ´ s financial policies that have pressed the regional currency to record low against the dollar.
Frustration over the cost-of-living crisis has actually caused in recent months. In August, a minimum of 20 people were shot dead and numerous others were jailed at demonstrations requiring better opportunities and tasks for young individuals.