MOGADISHU, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) on Wednesday condemned the brutal murder of 12-year-old girl Aisha Ilyes Aden after being kidnapped, raped and tortured in north-central Somali town of Galkayo in Puntland State.

"The violence reflects and reinforces the discrimination against women and girls, perpetuating a vicious cycle that is detrimental to their development and progress," the UN agency said in a statement.

Puntland State President Said Abdullahi Deni vowed to arrest those behind the murder of Aisha whose lifeless body was found dumped near her home on Monday, a day after she disappeared.

According to UNFPA, gender-based violence is grave violation of individual women's and girls' rights, noting that the rape and subsequent murder of Aisha is a terrible example of that.

Puntland security agencies have rounded up several suspects in connection to the incident.