13 People Including Children Die in Stampedes In Nigeria At

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) – At least 13 people, including four kids, were killed in 2 separate stampedes in Nigeria as large crowds collected to gather food and clothes products dispersed at yearly Christmas occasions, the authorities said Saturday.

The two mishaps came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populated country, in the middle of a growing pattern by regional organizations, churches and individuals to arrange charity events ahead of Christmas, as the nation battles with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.

Ten people were killed in the first stampede in the early hours at the Catholic Church in Maitama, an upmarket part of the capital, Abuja, authorities representative Josephine Adeh said 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 properties at around 4 a.m., hours before the present products were to be shared, witnesses stated, explaining that some had been waiting because the previous night.

“The way they were rushing to get in, some people were falling and some of them were old,” Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang said he managed to rescue one baby as his mother had a hard time in the surge.

Three people passed away in a comparable crush later in the southeastern Anambra state’s Okija town at a fundraiser organized by a philanthropist, the state authorities said.

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

Viral video that appeared to be from the Abuja scene showed lifeless bodies resting on the ground as people shouted for help. Some of the hurt have been treated and released while others continue to receive healthcare, authorities stated.

The church canceled the fundraiser with bags of rice and clothing items still arranged within the premises.

As the church held a wedding after the crowd was evacuated, the pain and sadness remained palpable even as households and pals collected for wedding pictures.

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu revealed his sympathy with the victims’ households and asked states and appropriate authorities to impose strict crowd control steps.

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

After the current catastrophe, the police in Abuja revealed that previous consent needs to be acquired before such fundraiser are organized.

The present economic difficulty under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who guaranteed “restored hope” when he was sworn into workplace in May 2023, is blamed on surging inflation that is at a 28-year high and the government ´ s economic policies that have actually pressed the local currency to record low versus the dollar.

Frustration over the cost-of-living crisis has resulted in mass protests in recent months. In August, a minimum of 20 people were shot dead and numerous others were arrested at protests requiring better opportunities and jobs for youths.