A member of a self-styled 'African tribe' that established a camp in the Scottish Borders has been deported from the country, the Home Office has confirmed. Kofi Offeh, who referred to himself as King Atehene, was a key figure in the self-proclaimed Kingdom of Kubala, which he founded alongside Jean Gasho, known as Queen Nandi. The group later included 'handmaiden' Kaura Taylor, who went by the name Asnat.
Deportation and arrival in Ghana
Local media reported Mr Offeh's arrival at Accra International Airport on April 22. The Home Office confirmed his removal from the United Kingdom, marking the end of a saga that drew global attention to the group's activities in woodland near Jedburgh.
Media attention and legal battles
The group gained widespread media coverage when they set up camp in woodland near Jedburgh in May last year. They claimed to be reoccupying land that they asserted had been stolen from their ancestors 400 years ago. Social media accounts of the 'tribe', featuring videos of dancing, singing, and chanting, amassed tens of thousands of followers on platforms such as TikTok and Facebook.
In September, the landowners initiated legal proceedings to evict the group, arguing they had 'no right of title' to the property. A sheriff subsequently issued a warrant for their removal. After being evicted from the first site, the group relocated to a neighbouring plot owned by Scottish Borders Council.
Second eviction and immigration arrests
Further legal action led to a second eviction in October, when sheriff officers, police, and Immigration Enforcement officers attended the site. At that time, the Home Office confirmed that a Ghanaian man and an American woman had been arrested on suspicion of immigration offences. Mr Offeh's deportation brings the case to a close, with the self-proclaimed kingdom now disbanded.
