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ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - A minimum of 13 individuals, consisting of 4 children, were killed in 2 different stampedes in Nigeria as large crowds gathered to collect food and clothing products distributed at annual Christmas events, the police said Saturday.
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The 2 mishaps came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populous nation, in the middle of a growing trend by regional companies, churches and people to organize charity occasions ahead of Christmas, as the country fights 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 spokesman Josephine Adeh said in a declaration, including that more than 1,000 individuals have been left from the church.
There was a crowd surge at one of the church gates, as lots attempted to go into the facilities at around 4 a.m., hours before the gift items were to be shared, witnesses said, that some had actually been waiting given that the previous night.
"The way they were hurrying to get in, some people were falling and some of them were old," Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang stated he handled to rescue one infant as his mom had a hard time in the surge.
Three individuals died in a similar crush later on in the southeastern Anambra state's Okija town at a fundraiser arranged by a philanthropist, the state cops stated.
"The event had not even started when the rush began," cops spokesman Tochukwu Ikenga stated. There might be more deaths taped as officers investigate the occurrence, he said.
Viral footage that seemed from the Abuja scene showed lifeless bodies lying on the ground as individuals screamed for help. A few of the injured have actually been dealt with and released while others continue to get treatment, authorities stated.
The church canceled the charity drive with bags of rice and clothing products still organized within the premises.
As the church held a marital relationship event after the crowd was left, the agony and unhappiness stayed palpable even as friends and families gathered for wedding event images.
Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu expressed his sympathy with the victims' families and asked states and relevant authorities to implement rigorous crowd control procedures.
The current stampedes in Nigeria have actually raised questions about security measures in such events. Several kids were killed on Wednesday this week when a local foundation organized a well-attended funfair to distribute gift products and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.
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After the current disaster, the police in Abuja revealed that previous authorization must be obtained before such charity drive are organized.
The present financial challenge under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who assured "renewed hope" when he was sworn into workplace in May 2023, is blamed on rising inflation that is at a 28-year high and the government ´ s economic policies that have actually pressed 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, a minimum of 20 people were shot dead and hundreds of others were arrested at protests requiring better chances and tasks for young individuals.
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13 People Including Children Die in Stampedes In Nigeria At
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