President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has extended condolences to the Maasdorp family following the tragic death of their five-year-old daughter, Ingrid.

The young girl's body was discovered under a bridge in Okahandja after she was sexually assaulted and strangled, a crime that has shaken the nation to its core.

The President's message was delivered by Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare during a memorial vigil in Windhoek, where mourners gathered to honour Ingrid's memory.

President Nandi-Ndaitwah said that Namibia not only mourns the loss of a precious child but also stands in solidarity with her family in their time of unimaginable grief.

She said this gruesome act of tragedy must serve as a catalyst for greater protection of children.

The sombre gathering at the candlelight vigil was a reminder of the fragile innocence lost.

Mourners stood in silence, candles in hand.

The ceremony, organised by the Ministry of Education, was a heart-wrenching testament to the collective grief of a nation.

Shaun Goabab is Ingrid's father; her sudden death has taken a toll on him and Ingrid's mother.

Utaara Mootu, a Member of Parliament representing the Landless People's Movement (LPM), was emotional.

Her voice breaking with emotion, Mootu addressed the crowd, saying that Ingrid's name should have echoed in schoolyards, at birthday parties, and in dreams of becoming a doctor, a dancer, and a mother; now, her name only echoes in courtrooms, candlelight vigils, and the cries of a grieving nation.

There is a rise in gender-based violence (GBV) against women and children. Official statistics reveal that in the 2023/24 financial year, the Namibian Police recorded 4,814 cases of GBV, with the capital, Windhoek, reporting the highest number of incidents.

Police this week said that though persons of interest are being pursued, there are no new developments in the Ingrid Maasdorp murder.

Ingrid was initially reported as missing; after her grandfather could not find her at school, she was later found under this bridge.