Over 30 people lost their lives during a charity even in Nigeria, when a crowd waiting for food broke through a church gate, officials have said.

A stampede in Nigeria's Port Harcourt killed at least 31 people and injured several others, officials said on Saturday.

The tragedy apparently took place at a local church, where hundreds turned up for a food charity event. Eventually, the crowd broke through the church gate and some of the people at the scene were trampled.

"People were there earlier and some got impatient and started rushing, which led to stampeding," said police spokesperson Grace Iringe-Koko. "The police are on the ground monitoring the situation while the investigation is ongoing."