A COUPLE who claim they are “king and queen” of an African royal dynasty have been evicted from their camp in a forest near a town in the Scottish Borders.
Kofi Offeh from Ghana and Jean Gasho from Zimbabwe had been living in tents and documenting their lives on social media on land near Jedburgh that is owned by the Scottish Borders Council.
In footage online, Offeh, a 36-year-old former opera singer, claims he is the messiah and a descendant of the biblical King David, with the couple referring to each other as King Atehehe and Queen Nandi.
In one video shared online, Gasho gestures towards Offeh and stated: “All hail the king of the north.
“All the messiah … the holy seed of David. You are the chosen one. The one to usher us to the promised land, here in the holy land of Scotland.”
The couple claim they have settled in a forest, with the intention of reclaiming land that was stolen from their ancestors in the Highlands 400 years ago.
The group said they live a simple life and aim to fulfill a prophecy to establish their kingdom and bring other “lost tribes” back to Scotland.
Residents had raised concerns for the pair before the local authority said they had been removed.
Further concerns were raised after they were joined by another woman, Asnat, along with her baby daughter.
Videos posted online show Offeh and Gasho referring to Asnat as their “handmaiden” and servant.
According to the New York Post, Asnat, is actually Kaura Taylor, an American who has been reported missing from her home in Texas.
It has also been reported that social services have since removed Asnat’s child from her.
A family friend of Asnat reportedly claimed Offeh and Gasho took advantage of her vulnerable state.
“Kaura has been groomed online and brought over to the UK by Jean Gasho and her husband,” she alleged in an online post.
“Please try to get her to safety and call the police.”
However, Asnat responded to the claims in her own video in which she states: “To the UK authorities, I am not missing. Leave me alone. I am an adult not a helpless child.”
Gasho and Offeh were previously based in northeast England and were due to stand trial on alleged child cruelty charges at Teesside crown court.
However, the charges were dropped earlier this year.
One Jedburgh resident told The Times: “Kofi tells anyone who will listen that he is the messiah.
“Jean seems to have fallen for it hook, line and sinker. They were living with another woman in the woods.
“They claimed to be living in a mystical kingdom called Kubala, but the reality is that it was a muddy patch of land on the outskirts of Jedburgh.”
He added: “There are obvious concerns over their mental health and the authorities need to intervene.”
The Scottish Borders Council confirmed they have removed Offeh, Gasho and Asnat and have provided provisions along with advice for housing options and other support services.
A spokesperson said: “We have been working with Police Scotland in relation to an illegal encampment by three occupants on council-owned property at Hartrigge near Jedburgh.
“This has included the provision of advice and information about housing options and other support services.
“A notice to eject was served by sheriff officers following which the group vacated the site. The site itself has since been cleared.”
