‘African tribe’ evicted from woodland site and moves over fence

A self-styled “African tribe” has been evicted from privately-owned land in the Scottish Borders – and has moved over a small fence.

A sheriff on Friday issued a warrant for the removal of the so-called Kingdom of Kubala, which has been camping in woodland near Jedburgh in the Scottish Borders for the past few weeks.

Jedburgh councillor Scott Hamilton said that sheriff officers arrived at the camp at 8am on Tuesday to remove the group from the site.

Police also assisted, and there were no arrests.

The group have now moved over a small fence, and at lunchtime on Tuesday were in the process of setting up their camp a short distance away from the previous site.

The self-styled tribe is made up of leader Kofi Offeh, 36, the self-proclaimed King Atehene, his wife Jean Gasho, 43, who calls herself Queen Nandi, and “handmaiden” Kaura Taylor, who calls herself Asnat.

The three members of the self-proclaimed “kingdom” have said they are reclaiming land that was stolen from their ancestors 400 years ago.

Mr Hamilton, deputy leader of Scottish Borders council, said they are working to establish the ownership of the land the group have moved onto.

He said: “We are assessing legally what the situation is in terms of their status.

“It does appear to be another person’s land, but it may be in the council’s ownership.

“We are working to establish that and then following that we will take forward legal action.”

The group did not wish to speak to media on Tuesday, telling the PA news agency that they only talk to those who bring gifts.

In a post on Facebook they said: “Nobody can stop Kubala on 16 September 2025.”

The statement ended: “The Kingdom of Kubala can never be destroyed!”

Workmen have now put up a fence around the area to which the group has moved.

Issuing the order at Jedburgh Sheriff Court on Friday, Sheriff Peter Paterson said it would come into effect immediately.

During the hearing lawyer Conner McConnell, representing landowners Mary and David Palmer, said his clients were seeking the “removal of occupiers on the basis of no right to title”.

The civil action was brought after the group ignored a previous eviction notice, which instructed them to leave their encampment by 5pm on Monday September 8.

Speaking at the campsite on Friday, Mr Offeh said: “The creator of the heavens and the Earth is the one with us.

“We are not afraid of whatever the court, the so-called court, has granted.”

Asked if the group plans to move elsewhere, he said: “If the creator of the heavens and the Earth wants us to move from this land, he shall find us a place to go.”