A Ghanaian man at the center of a self-declared African “kingdom” in the Scottish Borders has been arrested alongside his wife after immigration officials and police dismantled their woodland settlement.
The trio, who styled themselves as the “Kingdom of Kubala,” had been living in woods near Jedburgh since May, claiming to be reclaiming land taken from their ancestors centuries ago. But after ignoring an eviction order in August and shifting their campsite onto land owned by the Scottish Borders Council, their stand came to an abrupt end this week.
On Wednesday, Selkirk Sheriff Court ruled that the group could not return to their original camp. A day later, officers from Immigration Enforcement and Police Scotland moved in, arresting Ghanaian national Kofi Offeh, 36, known to his followers as King Atehene, and his wife, Jean Gasho, 43, who refers to herself as Queen Nandi. Their companion, 21-year-old Kaura Taylor, also known as Asnat, was forced to leave the site as part of the eviction.
Councillor Scott Hamilton, deputy leader of the local authority, said officers from several agencies worked together to clear the site.
“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,” Hamilton told Sky News.
Hamilton added that the group consistently refused to engage with local authorities, police or social services. “All they wanted was publicity,” he said, noting that residents in Jedburgh should feel reassured by the enforcement action.
The Home Office confirmed arrests were made but declined to provide details. “It would not be appropriate to comment while an investigation is ongoing,” a spokesperson said.
