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 clothing products distributed at annual Christmas occasions, the authorities said Saturday.
The two accidents came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populous nation, amidst a growing trend by regional organizations, churches and individuals to organize charity drive ahead of Christmas, as the nation battles with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.
Ten people were eliminated in the first stampede in the early hours at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, an upmarket part of the capital, Abuja, authorities representative Josephine Adeh stated in a statement, including that more than 1,000 individuals have actually been evacuated from the church.
There was a crowd surge at one of the church gates, as dozens attempted to enter the properties at around 4 a.m., hours before the gift products were to be shared, witnesses said, mentioning that some had actually been waiting considering that the previous night.
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"The method they were rushing 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 baby as his mother struggled in the surge.
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Three individuals died in a similar crush later in the southeastern Anambra state's Okija town at a charity drive organized by a benefactor, the state authorities said.
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"The occasion had not even begun when the rush began," police representative Tochukwu Ikenga stated. There could be more deaths taped as officers examine the occurrence, he stated.
Viral video that appeared to be from the Abuja scene revealed lifeless bodies lying on the ground as people screamed for help. Some of the hurt have actually been dealt with and discharged while others continue to receive treatment, cops said.
The church canceled the charity event with bags of rice and clothes items still arranged within the premises.
As the church held a marriage ceremony after the crowd was evacuated, the misery and sadness remained palpable even as friends and families collected for wedding images.
Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu revealed his sympathy with the victims' families and asked states and appropriate authorities to impose rigorous crowd control measures.
The recent stampedes in Nigeria have actually raised questions about precaution in such occasions. Several children 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 current catastrophe, the authorities in Abuja revealed that previous permission needs to be acquired before such charity events are organized.
The existing financial challenge under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who guaranteed "restored hope" when he was sworn into office in May 2023, is blamed on rising inflation that is at a 28-year high and the government ´ s financial policies that have pushed the to record 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 hundreds of others were arrested at protests demanding better opportunities and jobs for youths.
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