'African tribe handmaiden' released after immigration arrest in Scottish woods

The "handmaiden" of a self-proclaimed African tribe recently evicted from Scottish woods has been released after being arrested during an immigration raid.

American national Kaura Taylor, 21, was one of three members of the "Kingdom of Kubala" who claimed they were reclaiming land stolen from their ancestors 400 years ago in Jedburgh, near the border with England.

The group's self-proclaimed King was former businessman and opera singer Kofi Offeh, and his partner Jean Gasho who called herself "The Queen of the North".

Taylor was reported missing from Texas in May this year before her family spotted videos of her online where she was "swearing allegiance" to the King who said he had "bought" her "for a price".

Their controversial camp was forced out of council land in the Scottish Borders on Thursday after a protracted court battle to remove the trio.

It came hours after Sky News reported on the concerns of Kaura's mother Melba Whitehead in Dallas, Texas.

Ms Whitehead suggested her daughter was "brainwashed", "coerced" and lured from the US to the "cult" in Scotland.

The group denied the allegations when we confronted them.

A Facebook post by Jean Gasho later described Ms Whitehead's emotional Sky interview as "laughable".

UK Border Force officers swooped on the camp and detained a Ghanaian man and American woman on Thursday.

They were held on suspicion of immigration offences.

Sky sources now say the American woman has been "de-arrested" after it was determined "no offence had been committed".

It is understood the male from Ghana remains detained pending further action.

(c) Sky News 2025: 'African tribe handmaiden' released after immigration arrest in Scottish woods