Prime Minister Andrew Holness has expressed outrage at the gruesome murder of 9-year-old Esher Primary student Nikita Noel who was killed on her way home from school yesterday.

In a release, Prime Minister Holness dubbed the murder as vicious and notes that the nation must raise its voice in a collective manner to speak out against acts of violence and support measures that will bring the perpetrators to justice.

“Nikita’s horrifying murder is a shock to our collective conscience and sense of community and can only be described as evil. My heart goes out to Nikita’s family as they try to make sense of her murder.” He lamented.

“Our society must never become numb to the increasing barbarity of violent acts. The society must clearly define and defend the moral line by speaking out against and unequivocally condemning these violent acts and supporting measures that will bring the perpetrators to justice,” he added.

Prime Minister also alluded that amendments are currently being made to the Offenses Against Persons Act (OAPA) to ensure that more stringent measures are put in place to deal with perpetrators linked to senseless acts of violence.

Noel’s body was discovered by a search party comprising of citizens from the Kew District in Lucea, Hanover, and the police after her mother filed a missing person report yesterday.

The victim is believed to have been strangled and raped by a perpetrator who is said to be her mother’s ex-boyfriend.

The suspect has since been placed in protective custody amid heated tempers in the community.