A Ghanaian man, a Zimbabwean woman, and an American national who declared themselves rulers of a self-styled “Kingdom of Kubala” have been ordered to leave privately-owned woodland near Jedburgh in the Scottish Borders.
The group, led by 36-year-old Kofi Offeh and 42-year-old Jean Gasho, had set up camp with a third member after claiming they were reclaiming land taken from their ancestors 400 years ago.
They had previously been evicted from a hillside in July but later moved to a nearby woodland belonging to David and Mary Palmer.
Sheriff Peter Paterson issued an immediate eviction order after the trio ignored a council instruction to vacate the land by Monday evening.
The Scottish Borders Council said the group had no legal right to occupy the land and were breaking the law by refusing to leave.
Local councillor Scott Hamilton noted the landowners had no choice but to seek court action after the group repeatedly rejected efforts to resolve the issue.
The trio, who refer to themselves as King Atehehe, Queen Nandi, and handmaiden Asnat, have gained more than 100,000 followers on social media and attracted global media attention. Despite the ruling, they have publicly declared they will not be intimidated by the eviction order.
