ABUJA, Nigeria — The number of fatalities resulting from stampedes at two Christmas charity events in Nigeria has risen significantly, with police reporting 32 dead, up from an initial count of 13. This tragic event included the loss of at least four children as individuals rushed for food while the country faces an unprecedented cost-of-living crisis.

In Okija town in Anambra state, a food distribution organized by a local philanthropist led to 22 deaths, according to police spokesman Tochukwu Ikenga. In the nation’s capital, Abuja, ten additional lives were lost during a similar charitable gathering held by a church. Authorities have announced that they are conducting investigations into both incidents, coming on the heels of another stampede that claimed the lives of 35 children just days earlier.

As Africa’s most populous nation grapples with severe economic challenges, there has been a noticeable increase in charity events organized by local groups, churches, and individuals as a means to address the financial strain felt by many citizens during the holiday season.

Witnesses at the Abuja event described a chaotic surge at the church’s entrance as people attempted to push their way in around 4 a.m., well before the scheduled distribution of gifts. Many attendees, including elderly individuals, spent the night outside in hopes of receiving food, with a bystander named Loveth Inyang recounting her experience of rescuing a baby from the turmoil.

The tragic events have raised alarms regarding safety protocols at these charity distributions, leading to increasing demands for authorities to implement stricter regulations to ensure public safety. In response, the Nigerian police have begun requiring that event organizers obtain prior authorization for such gatherings.