Illegal gold mining and land degradation can affect food production negatively. This study examines the impacts of illegal/surface gold mining and land degradation on food security in Yauri, Kebbi State. Data for this study were collected from both primary and secondary sources. A total of 250 copies of questionnaire were administered to the respondents in the study area using systematic random sampling technique. Chi-square (Goodness of Fit test) was used to test the relationship between illegal surface gold mining and land degradation/food productivity in the study area. Descriptive statistics such as simple percentages, graph and frequency among others were used to analyze the data. The findings revealed that there is significant relationship between illegal/surface gold mining and land degradation/food productivity. 97.1% used farmland as their mining site and 98.4% dumped tailings and mining waste on the land. The result further showed that more than 96% of the respondents abandoned farming activities for illegal gold mining. This finding indicates loss of farm labour which may result to food insecurity in the study area. The study therefore recommends that constitutional provision should be tailored towards empowering states to control and extract whatever minerals deposited within their domain for the overall economic benefit of the citizenry.