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13 People Including Children Die in Stampedes In Nigeria At

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) – A minimum of 13 individuals, including 4 children, were killed in two different stampedes in Nigeria as large crowds collected to collect food and clothes items distributed at annual Christmas events, the police said Saturday.

The 2 accidents came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populous country, amidst a growing trend by regional companies, churches and individuals to arrange charity events ahead of Christmas, as the nation 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, cops representative Josephine Adeh stated in a statement, 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 enter the premises at around 4 a.m., hours before the gift items were to be shared, witnesses said, mentioning that some had been waiting since the previous night.

“The method they were hurrying to go into, some individuals were falling and some of them were old,” Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang stated he managed to rescue one baby as his mom struggled in the rise.

Three people died in a comparable crush later in the southeastern Anambra state’s Okija town at a fundraiser arranged by a benefactor, the state authorities stated.

“The event had not even started when the rush started,” cops representative Tochukwu Ikenga said. There could be more deaths recorded as officers investigate the occurrence, he stated.

Viral video footage that seemed from the Abuja scene showed lifeless bodies pushing the ground as people screamed for aid. Some of the hurt have been dealt with and discharged while others continue to receive treatment, police stated.

The church canceled the charity drive with bags of rice and clothes products still organized within the properties.

As the church held a wedding after the crowd was left, the misery and unhappiness stayed palpable even as friends and families gathered for wedding pictures.

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu revealed his sympathy with the victims’ families and asked states and relevant authorities to impose stringent crowd control steps.

The recent stampedes in Nigeria have actually raised concerns about precaution in such events. Several children were killed on Wednesday this week when a regional foundation arranged a well-attended funfair to distribute gift products and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.

After the current disaster, the authorities in Abuja announced that previous authorization needs to be gotten before such charity events are arranged.

The existing financial hardship 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 federal government ´ s financial policies that have actually the local currency to tape low versus the dollar.

Frustration over the cost-of-living crisis has caused mass protests in recent months. In August, at least 20 people were shot dead and numerous others were arrested at protests requiring much better chances and jobs for young people.