ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - A minimum of 13 people, including 4 kids, were killed in two different stampedes in Nigeria as big crowds gathered to gather food and clothing products distributed at annual Christmas events, the authorities stated Saturday.
The two mishaps came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populated nation, amid a growing trend by regional companies, churches and people to organize charity drive ahead of Christmas, as the country has a hard time 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, police spokesperson Josephine Adeh stated in a declaration, adding that more than 1,000 people have been evacuated from the church.
There was a crowd surge at one of the church gates, as dozens attempted to get in the premises at around 4 a.m., hours before the present products were to be shared, witnesses said, explaining that some had actually been waiting given that the previous night.
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"The way they were hurrying to enter, some people were falling and some of them were old," Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang said he managed to save one infant as his mom struggled in the rise.
Three individuals died in a comparable crush later in the southeastern Anambra state's Okija town at a charity event organized by a philanthropist, the state cops said.
"The event had not even started when the rush started," cops representative Tochukwu Ikenga stated. There might be more deaths tape-recorded as officers examine the occurrence, he said.
Viral video that appeared to be from the Abuja scene revealed lifeless bodies lying on the ground as people yelled for help. Some of the injured have actually been treated and discharged while others continue to receive healthcare, cops stated.
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The church canceled the charity drive with bags of rice and clothes products still set up within the facilities.
As the church held a marital relationship ceremony after the crowd was left, the misery and sadness remained even as friends and families collected for wedding event photos.
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Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu revealed his sympathy with the victims' households and asked states and appropriate authorities to impose stringent crowd control procedures.
The current stampedes in Nigeria have raised questions about precaution in such events. Several children were killed on Wednesday today when a regional foundation organized a well-attended funfair to distribute gift items and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.
After the most recent catastrophe, the authorities in Abuja announced that previous permission must be acquired before such charity occasions are arranged.
The existing 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 federal government ´ s economic policies that have pushed the regional currency to tape low versus the dollar.
Frustration over the cost-of-living crisis has actually caused mass demonstrations in current months. In August, at least 20 people were shot dead and numerous others were apprehended at demonstrations requiring much better chances and tasks for youths.