ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - A minimum of 13 people, including four children, were killed in two separate stampedes in Nigeria as big crowds collected to collect food and clothing items distributed at annual Christmas events, the authorities said Saturday.
The 2 mishaps came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populated country, amidst a growing trend by local organizations, churches and people to arrange fundraiser ahead of Christmas, as the nation has problem with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.
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Ten people were killed in the very 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 declaration, 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 facilities at around 4 a.m., hours before the present products were to be shared, witnesses said, mentioning that some had been waiting since the previous night.
"The way they were rushing to get in, some people were falling and some of them were old," Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang said he managed to rescue one child as his mother struggled in the surge.
Three individuals died in a comparable crush later in the southeastern Anambra state's Okija town at a charity occasion arranged by a philanthropist, the state police said.
"The event had not even begun when the rush started," cops spokesperson Tochukwu Ikenga stated. There might be more deaths taped as officers investigate the occurrence, he said.
Viral footage that appeared to be from the Abuja scene revealed lifeless bodies pushing the ground as individuals shouted for aid. A few of the injured have been dealt with and discharged while others continue to get treatment, police stated.
The church canceled the fundraiser with bags of rice and clothing products still set up within the properties.
As the a marital relationship ceremony after the crowd was left, the agony and sadness stayed palpable even as households and friends collected for wedding event pictures.
Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu expressed his compassion with the victims' families and asked states and relevant authorities to implement rigorous crowd control measures.
The current stampedes in Nigeria have actually raised concerns about precaution in such occasions. Several kids were killed on Wednesday this week when a local foundation arranged a well-attended funfair to distribute gift products and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.
After the most recent catastrophe, the cops in Abuja revealed that previous consent must be obtained before such fundraiser are organized.
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The existing financial difficulty under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who promised "restored hope" when he was sworn into office in May 2023, is blamed on surging 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 caused mass demonstrations in current months. In August, a minimum of 20 people were shot dead and hundreds of others were jailed at demonstrations demanding much better opportunities and tasks for young individuals.
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