‘African tribe’ evicted from Scottish woodland site but set up new camp nearby

A self-styled “African tribe” has been evicted from privately-owned land in the Scottish Borders – but is in the process of setting up a new camp nearby.

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

Scott Hamilton, deputy leader of Scottish Borders Council, said sheriff officers arrived at the camp at 8am on Tuesday to remove the group from the site.

Police Scotland also assisted, with the force confirming there had been no arrests.

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

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

Mr Hamilton said the council is working to establish the ownership of the land the group has moved on to.

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.”

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”.

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

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.”