ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - A minimum of 13 people, including 4 kids, were killed in two different stampedes in Nigeria as large crowds collected to gather food and clothing items distributed at yearly Christmas occasions, the authorities said Saturday.
The 2 accidents came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populous country, amid a growing pattern by local organizations, churches and people to arrange fundraiser ahead of Christmas, as the country 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 Catholic Church in Maitama, an upmarket part of the capital, Abuja, cops spokesman Josephine Adeh said in a declaration, adding that more than 1,000 people have actually been evacuated from the church.
There was a crowd surge at one of the church gates, as lots attempted to enter the facilities at around 4 a.m., hours before the gift items were to be shared, witnesses stated, explaining that some had actually been waiting since the previous night.
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"The way they were rushing to get in, some individuals were falling and a few of them were old," Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang said he to save one child as his mother had a hard time in the rise.
Three individuals passed away in a similar crush later in the southeastern Anambra state's Okija town at a charity drive organized by a benefactor, the state authorities stated.
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"The event had not even started when the rush started," authorities representative Tochukwu Ikenga said. There could be more deaths recorded as officers investigate the event, he said.
Viral video that seemed from the Abuja scene showed lifeless bodies pushing the ground as people shouted for help. A few of the hurt have actually been treated and discharged while others continue to get healthcare, cops said.
The church canceled the fundraiser with bags of rice and clothing items still organized within the properties.
As the church held a marriage ceremony after the crowd was left, the misery and sadness remained palpable even as friends and families gathered for wedding event pictures.
Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu expressed his compassion with the victims' households and asked states and relevant authorities to enforce strict crowd control steps.
The recent stampedes in Nigeria have actually raised concerns about safety steps in such events. Several kids were killed on Wednesday this week when a local structure organized a well-attended funfair to disperse present items and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.
After the most recent catastrophe, the cops in Abuja revealed that prior approval needs to be acquired before such charity drive are organized.
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The existing financial hardship under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who assured "restored hope" when he was sworn into workplace in May 2023, is blamed on rising inflation that is at a 28-year high and the federal government ´ s economic policies that have actually pushed the local currency to tape low versus the dollar.
Frustration over the cost-of-living crisis has actually resulted in mass protests in current months. In August, a minimum of 20 people were shot dead and numerous others were detained at demonstrations requiring much better chances and jobs for young people.