Kingdom of Kubala refuses to leave Scottish Borders woodland despite Sheriff Peter Paterson granting immediate removal warrant
A sheriff has issued a warrant for the immediate removal of a self-proclaimed African tribe camping illegally in privately-owned woodland near Jedburgh, but the group shows no signs of leaving their encampment. The so-called Kingdom of Kubala, consisting of three members who claim to be reclaiming ancestral Scottish land stolen 400 years ago, remained defiant Friday afternoon following the court order.
Sheriff Peter Paterson granted the eviction warrant with immediate effect at Jedburgh Sheriff Court on Friday morning, after the group ignored a previous eviction notice requiring them to vacate by 5pm on Monday, 8 September. None of the Kingdom members appeared in court or had legal representation during the proceedings.
The trio comprises Kofi Offeh, 36, a former opera singer who styles himself as King Atehene; his wife Jean Gasho, 43, known as Queen Nandi; and American woman Kaura Taylor from Texas, who goes by the name Asnat and describes herself as the couple’s handmaiden. Taylor, 21, had been reported missing by her family in the United States before being discovered living with the group.
Landowners forced to seek court intervention
During Friday’s hearing, lawyer Conner McConnell, representing landowners Mary and David Palmer, told the court his clients were seeking “removal of occupiers on the basis of no right to title.” He requested the sheriff grant an order to remove “the offenders, their family, any subtenant and any dependents, together with any goods and possessions.”
McConnell also sought an interdiction preventing the group from occupying both the current land and additional property under a separate title owned by the Palmers. Sheriff Paterson confirmed he was “happy to grant a notice of eviction” with immediate effect.
Speaking after the warrant was issued, Mr Offeh remained defiant at the campsite. “The creator of the heavens and the Earth is the one with us,” he declared. “We are not afraid of whatever the court – the so-called court – has granted.”
When asked directly if they planned to move, he responded: “If the creator of the heavens and the Earth wants us to move from this land, he shall find us a place to go.”
Council backs legal action as tensions escalate
Jedburgh councillor Scott Hamilton, deputy leader of Scottish Borders Council, said the landowners had been left with “no option” but to pursue legal action after the group ignored the ultimatum from sheriff officers on 5 September.
“This is disappointing but I can’t say it isn’t surprising given the group’s previous behaviour,” Hamilton stated. “They now leave the landowner no option but to apply for a warrant and interdict.”
The Conservative councillor confirmed the council would support the landowners through the next steps, with all additional safety measures remaining in place until the situation is resolved. He urged residents not to engage with the group during the eviction process.
The encampment has sparked significant tensions in the historic Borders town, with Hamilton previously calling for calm after what he described as an “escalation” in the relationship between the illegal campers and local residents. In a video statement, he warned against “mob mentality or threats of violence,” insisting the group would leave “by their own esteem or by lawful means” only.
Historical claims and religious beliefs
The Kingdom of Kubala claims to be a lost tribe of Hebrews, with King Atehene asserting he is descended from David the Messiah. The group maintains their ancestors were native black Jacobites who were deported from Scotland by Elizabeth I four centuries ago.
“Jacobites were black, from their ancestor Jacob, Yacobho, a black man,” Queen Nandi wrote on social media, which has attracted tens of thousands of followers on TikTok and Facebook. “According to our Prophet Atehene, Jerusalem is in Scotland.”
The trio claims they are fulfilling a prophecy to establish their kingdom and bring other “lost tribes” back into the fold. They say they follow only the laws of their God, Yahowah, and do not recognise local government authority or eviction notices.
“We follow the laws of the creator – everything belongs to the ones who made it,” King Atehene stated. “We do not believe that any authority owns the land. The earth belongs to the father.”
Simple life claims amid complex backstory
The group describes living a “simple life of returning to innocence,” bathing in spring water, living in tents, and relying on what the land provides. They wear traditional-style clothing and conduct various rituals, including chanting by fire and nature-based ceremonies that have gone viral on social media platforms.
However, their presence in Jedburgh follows a complicated history. The couple originally resided in Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, before crossing the border into Roxburghshire. They were initially housed in a Scottish Borders Council property before being served an eviction notice on 30 July.
Court records indicate Offeh and Gasho were charged with child cruelty offences in 2024, though these charges were dropped earlier in 2025. The group has also faced hostility from some locals, including an arson attack that destroyed their original camp, forcing them to relocate to the current privately-owned site.
Missing Texas woman refuses to leave
The presence of Kaura Taylor has added an international dimension to the case. The 21-year-old from Texas was reported missing by her family after she abruptly left the United States on 25 May on a six-month tourist visa, which expires in November.
Taylor’s aunt, Teri Allen, told reporters the family is “overly concerned” about her niece, claiming Taylor kept her communications with the Kingdom’s leaders “totally hidden from the family.” Another aunt, Vandora Skinner, said Taylor had been living with her and her then eight-month-old daughter before suddenly departing.
In a video message from the encampment, Taylor addressed authorities directly: “To the UK authorities, obviously I am not missing. Leave me alone. I am an adult, not a helpless child.”
She has also written on social media: “I’m very happy with my King and Queen, I was never missing, I fled a very abusive, toxic family.” Her family has strongly denied these allegations, with Allen describing Taylor’s upbringing as “very sheltered and protected” within a church-going household.
Previous encounters with authorities
This is not the Kingdom’s first encounter with Scottish authorities. A Scottish Borders Council spokesperson confirmed they had been “working with Police Scotland in relation to an illegal encampment by three occupants on Council-owned property at Hartrigge near Jedburgh.
The council provided advice and information about housing options and support services before sheriff officers served the initial eviction notice on 30 July, after which the group vacated that site and moved to the Palmers’ land.
Police Scotland confirmed they received a report of a disturbance at Oxnan Road, Jedburgh, on 31 August around 7:50pm, highlighting ongoing tensions between the group and local residents.
What happens next
With the eviction warrant now granted with immediate effect, sheriff officers have the legal authority to remove the group forcibly if necessary. The interdiction also prevents them from returning to occupy either the current land or other property owned by the Palmers.
Councillor Hamilton emphasised that the council and police are ready to work with the landowners “in securing a better outcome for this group and the community of Jedburgh.” He called on residents to show “quiet resolve of good humour, but also of pride and determination” during this challenging situation.
The Kingdom of Kubala’s social media accounts suggest they intend to continue their mission, with Queen Nandi recently posting: “The old world is going, the Second Exodus has begun, only those who live off grid, in Tabernacles will be saved, as we enter the Millennium Kingdom of Kubala.”
For now, the woodland encampment remains occupied, with the three members showing no immediate signs of compliance with the sheriff’s order. Local authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as they work to implement the court’s decision through legal channels.
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