ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - A minimum of 13 people, consisting of four kids, were killed in 2 different stampedes in Nigeria as big crowds gathered to gather food and clothes items 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 populated nation, amid a growing trend by regional companies, churches and people to arrange charity events ahead of Christmas, as the nation battles with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.
Ten individuals 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 statement, including that more than 1,000 individuals have actually been evacuated from the church.
There was a crowd rise at one of the church gates, as lots tried to enter the facilities at around 4 a.m., hours before the present products were to be shared, witnesses said, mentioning that some had been waiting considering that the previous night.
"The method they were hurrying to go into, some people were falling and a few of them were old," Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang said he handled to save one child as his mother had a hard time in the surge.
Three individuals died in a comparable crush later in the southeastern Anambra state's Okija town at a charity event arranged by a philanthropist, the state cops stated.
"The occasion had actually not even started when the rush began," cops spokesman Tochukwu Ikenga stated. There could be more deaths recorded as officers investigate the incident, he stated.
Viral video that appeared to be from the Abuja scene revealed lifeless bodies pushing the ground as individuals yelled for assistance. A few of the injured have actually been dealt with and discharged while others continue to get treatment, police stated.
The church canceled the charity drive with bags of rice and clothing products still arranged within the properties.
As the church held a marital relationship event after the crowd was evacuated, the agony and sadness remained palpable even as friends and families gathered for wedding event images.
Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu expressed his compassion with the victims' families and asked states and appropriate authorities to implement rigorous crowd control procedures.
The current stampedes in Nigeria have raised concerns about security procedures in such events. Several kids were killed on Wednesday today when a local structure arranged a well-attended funfair to present products and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.
After the current disaster, the police in Abuja announced that prior authorization must be obtained before such fundraiser are organized.
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The present financial hardship under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who promised "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 government ´ s financial policies that have pressed the regional currency to record low against the dollar.
Frustration over the cost-of-living crisis has led to mass protests in recent months. In August, a minimum of 20 people were shot dead and hundreds of others were jailed at demonstrations demanding better opportunities and jobs for young people.
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