Jedburgh: A self-styled ‘African tribe’ camping in the woodlands of the Scottish Borders remains steadfast in their decision to stay, despite an eviction notice from the local council.

According to Ghana News Agency, the so-called Kingdom of Kubala was ordered to vacate the land on the outskirts of Jedburgh by midday on Monday, following legal action initiated by Scottish Borders Council to evict them. Previously, the group had been staying on private land just a few meters away but relocated to council property when sheriff officers arrived.

The group, which maintains a notable presence on social media, consists of leader Kofi Offeh, 36, who identifies as King Atehene; his wife Jean Gasho, 43, who refers to herself as Queen Nandi; and ‘handmaiden’ Kaura Taylor, who calls herself Asnat. On Monday afternoon, the trio was seen around a campfire, singing songs, amidst a set-up of tents and camping gear, showing no signs of vacating the premises.

The ‘handmaiden’ stated that the ‘king’ would refrain from speaking to the media unless gifts were brought to him. It is believed that the council will soon seek an order from a sheriff to remove the group, now that the eviction deadline has lapsed.

Last Tuesday, sheriff officers executed the eviction from their previous campsite, but the group promptly established a new camp just beyond a small fence. They had been camping near Jedburgh for several weeks, continually disregarding previous ultimatums to leave.

Scott Hamilton, the Conservative deputy leader of Scottish Borders Council, remarked last week that “nobody is above the law, and no matter how long this takes, you can be guaranteed we will not cease.” He pointed out the group’s persistent failure to engage with the council and legal procedures.

The members of the self-proclaimed ‘kingdom’ have asserted their actions as a reclamation of land allegedly stolen from their ancestors 400 years ago. In a Facebook post on Friday, they declared: “The Kingdom of Kubala can never be destroyed.”

Scottish Borders Council has been contacted for further comment.