The study examined small-scale farmers’ perception of the effect of insecurity on food security in Borno State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 360 respondents, and primary data were collected using well-structured questionnaires. The data was analyzed by descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis, and multiple regression analysis. Hypotheses were tested using t-test and multiple regression analysis. The findings revealed that 75.5% of respondents were male, 60% were married, and 53% had formal education. The average age was 39 years, household size was 6, and farming experience averaged 20 years. Production significantly declined following insurgency, with 90.8% missing meals a few times within the year, while 63% attributed reduced food availability to diminished agricultural production. Limited market access was reported, with 62% indicating displacement as a key factor affecting food supply stability, and 49% perceiving increased malnutrition rates since insurgency began. The factor analysis shows that the causes of insecurity in the study area include socio-economic challenges, governance perceptions, trust and integrity, infrastructure conflicts, social issues, economic stability, and community land conflicts. The result of the multiple regression analysis showed that marital status, household size, education, and age significantly influenced production levels. Major farming constraints included herder-farmer conflicts, poor road access, high input costs, theft, and inadequate storage facilities. Hypothesis tests confirmed a significant difference in production without insurgency and with insurgency, with socio-economic characteristics (marital status, age, education, and household size) significantly affecting production levels. The study recommended that the government should prioritize security in agricultural sector to ensure farmers can access their land and engage in farming without fear of attacks or displacement in the region.