'African tribe' evicted from Scottish woodland and arrested by police

A self-proclaimed African tribe living in a woodland area in the Scottish Borders have been evicted and arrested by police.

The group, who have named themselves the Kingdom of Kubala, have been banned from moving back to the private land in Jedburgh they were previously evicted from.

The trio consists of Kofi Offeh, 36, who goes by King Atehene, his wife Jean Gasho, 43, who calls herself Queen Nandi, and “handmaiden” Kaura Taylor, 21, who goes by Asnat.

On Thursday, the three were evicted from the woods they have been living in since May.

The eviction, streamed live on TikTok, showed Offeh and Taylor being taken into police vans with immigration officers also on the scene.

Jedburgh councillor Scott Hamilton said that police, sheriff officers and other agencies went to the camp on Thursday morning and evicted the trio.

Mr Hamilton, deputy leader of Scottish Borders Council, said there was a “heavy police presence”.

He said: “The site is currently being cleared by the council.

“There are still a few things at play with regard to the situation, but I think this morning has been a good result for the community and for them as well in terms of the outcome.”

They were served with an eviction notice last month and moved their campsite over a fence to a neighbouring plot of land owned by the council.

On Wednesday, at Selkirk Sheriff Court, Sheriff Peter Paterson ruled that the trio would not be able to return to the original plot of land they were evicted from.

Last week, the court also granted an order banning them from council-owned land, including the area they were currently living.

The group had appeared unfazed by the latest court rulings, and continued to reside in the patch of land they had claimed on Wednesday.

However, footage on social media showed an altercation between a member of the group and a visitor to the site. The latest in a series of clashes with locals.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We are aware of video footage of an incident and officers have attended and spoken with those involved.”

Small crowds of people interested in the case were seen around the campsite, many of whom were documenting their experience live on social media.

The group say the land is rightfully theirs and that they are simply reclaiming what was taken from their ancestors 400 years ago.

Police Scotland and the Home Office have been contacted for comment.