This study investigates the impact of insecurity on food scarcity among arable crop farmers in the North Central Zone of Nigeria. It provides a thorough analysis of the security challenges farmers face, the implications of these challenges on agricultural productivity, and the strategies they adopt to cope. The research identifies the most prevalent forms of insecurity in the region, including crop theft (88.9%), crop destruction (76.4%), banditry and armed attacks (69.4%), farmer-herder conflicts (68.1%), the Boko Haram insurgency (66.4%), and kidnapping (64.2%). These security threats have led to a significant decline in household income, with 43.3% of farmers earning between ₦20,000 and ₦50,000 monthly during periods of insecurity, compared to 35.8% before insecurity escalated. The study establishes a direct relationship between insecurity and food scarcity, with 33.3% of farmers reporting severe food shortages and 30.6% frequently reducing food variety due to these shortages. Furthermore, factors such as climate change, postharvest insecurity, household size, and other socioeconomic variables are found to significantly affect agricultural productivity. In response, farmers have adopted strategies like seeking financial assistance (76.4%), reporting incidents to authorities (73.6%), and engaging in local security groups (69.4%). Paired samples analysis confirms that insecurity has substantially reduced crop yields, underscoring its detrimental effect on agricultural output. The study calls for urgent policy interventions to address the complex challenges posed by insecurity, to safeguard food security in the region.