Stamps in Nigeria have left at least 32 people dead as they scramble to get Christmas presents

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) – The death toll from stampedes at two Christmas charity events in Nigeria has risen from 13 to 32, police said Sunday. The victims, including at least four children, fell during the stampede as people searched for food as the country faced its worst cost of living crisis in a generation.

The dead include 22 people in the southeast town of Anambra, Okija, where a social worker on Saturday organized a food distribution, said local police spokesman Tochukwu Ikenga. Ten others died in the capital, Abuja, during a similar charity event organized by the church.

The police said that they are investigating the two incidents, after a few days many children were trampled on each other again.

Africa’s most populous country is seeing a growing trend of local organizations, churches and individuals organizing charity events before Christmas to alleviate the economic hardship caused by the cost of living crisis.

Witnesses to the stampede in Abuja told The Associated Press that there was a large crowd at one of the church’s gates, as dozens tried to enter the premises at around 04:00 hours, hours before the offerings were to be distributed.

Some of them, including the elderly, waited all night to get food, said Loveth Inyang, who rescued one infant from the accident.

The stampede sparked growing calls for authorities to take precautions at such events. The Nigerian police also mandated that the organizers obtain permission first.