13 People Including Children Die in Stampedes In Nigeria At

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) – A minimum of 13 people, including 4 children, were killed in 2 different stampedes in Nigeria as big to gather food and clothing products distributed at annual Christmas occasions, the authorities stated Saturday.

The two mishaps came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populated country, amid a growing trend by regional companies, churches and people to organize fundraiser ahead of Christmas, as the country struggles with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.

Ten people 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, police spokesman Josephine Adeh stated in a statement, including that more than 1,000 individuals have been left from the church.

There was a crowd surge at one of the church gates, as dozens attempted to go into the properties at around 4 a.m., hours before the gift products were to be shared, witnesses said, pointing out that some had actually been waiting because the previous night.

“The method they were rushing to get in, some individuals were falling and a few of them were old,” Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang said he managed to rescue one infant as his mom struggled in the surge.

Three individuals died in a similar crush later on in the southeastern Anambra state’s Okija town at a fundraiser organized by a philanthropist, the state cops stated.

“The occasion had not even started when the rush began,” police spokesperson Tochukwu Ikenga stated. There could be more deaths taped as officers examine the event, he said.

Viral video footage that appeared to be from the Abuja scene showed lifeless bodies resting on the ground as people yelled for aid. Some of the injured have been dealt with and released while others continue to receive healthcare, police said.

The church canceled the charity event with bags of rice and clothing products still set up within the premises.

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

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu expressed his compassion with the victims’ households and asked states and pertinent authorities to impose strict crowd control steps.

The current stampedes in Nigeria have raised concerns about precaution in such occasions. Several kids were eliminated on Wednesday today when a regional foundation organized a well-attended funfair to disperse present items and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.

After the most recent disaster, the cops in Abuja revealed that previous approval must be acquired before such charity occasions are arranged.

The present economic hardship under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who assured “renewed hope” when he was sworn into office in May 2023, is blamed on surging inflation that is at a 28-year high and the government ´ s economic policies that have pushed the local currency to tape low against the dollar.

Frustration over the cost-of-living crisis has resulted in mass protests in recent months. In August, at least 20 individuals were shot dead and hundreds of others were jailed at protests requiring much better chances and tasks for youths.