Two arrested as 'African tribe' evicted after raid on group's camp in Scottish wood

Two people have been arrested over suspected immigration offences as a self-styled African tribe was evicted from a Scottish forest.

The group, who have named themselves the Kingdom of Kubala, have been living in woods in Jedburgh, near the border of England, since May.

After they were served with an eviction notice in August, as they were on private land, the trio last month moved their campsite over a fence to a neighbouring plot of land owned by the Scottish Borders Council.

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

Officers from Immigration Enforcement and Police Scotland went to the site on Thursday.

It is understood a Ghanaian man and an American woman were arrested on suspicion of immigration offences.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "It would not be appropriate to comment while an investigation is ongoing."

Councillor Scott Hamilton, deputy leader of the local authority, said police, sheriff officers and other agencies went to the camp and evicted the trio.

He told Sky News: "So, this group obviously arrived in Jedburgh a number of months ago. They set up camp here.

"They were originally on Scottish Borders Council land, and they set up camp and claimed they were a Kingdom of Kubala. And this, quite frankly, was ludicrous.

"It broke laws. It broke the rules. And as landowners we took action, as well as private landowners, to ensure this outcome today."

Mr Hamilton said you "could never guess" the group's next move, with the trio refusing to engage with the council, Police Scotland and adult protective services.

He added that "all they wanted was publicity".

The group is made up of Kofi Offeh, 36, who calls himself King Atehene, his wife Jean Gasho, 43, who calls herself Queen Nandi, and "handmaiden" Kaura Taylor, 21, who goes by the name of Asnat.

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

Mr Hamilton branded their claim "ludicrous", adding: "We're working with the police, the Home Office etc, so we'll continue to have that liaison as this case progresses.

"But people of Jedburgh can take some relief today that action has been taken."

The site is now being cleared by the council.

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Sky's Scotland correspondent Connor Gillies reported that the Texan mother of Ms Taylor believes her daughter was lured and coerced into moving to the forest, 4,000 miles away from home.

Melba Whitehead told Sky News the family spotted an online image of her living as a "handmaiden", and pleaded with authorities to deport her daughter back to the US.

Ms Whitehead branded the group a "cult", adding: "This isn't just another young adult rebelling. This isn't just another young adult who's mad at the world.

"The difference is she's under someone else's spell in another country."

Ms Taylor dismissed her family's concerns and denied being coerced.

She told Sky News: "Others are not my concern. People who care about my best interests know why I am here."

(c) Sky News 2025: Two arrested as 'African tribe' evicted after raid on group's camp in Scottish wood