This study examines the impacts of oil thefts and artisanal refining on landuse/landcover and food security in Ahoada-East Local Government Area of Rivers State, South-South, Nigeria from year 2002 and 2022 covering a twenty years’ period. Landsat images with path 189 and roll 56 for the years 2002 and 2022 were acquired for this study; Landsat 7 image was used for 2002 while Landsat 8 image was used for 2022. Results of the analyses showed that agricultural land decreased from 61.60km2 in 2002 to 29.40km2 in 2022 indicating a huge decreased with its far-reaching agricultural and environmental consequences. Bare soil which was 0km2 in 2002 increased to over 10.3km2 in 2022 showing the extent of devastations emanating from the activities linked to oil thefts and artisanal refining activities in the area. Degraded land increased from 0km2 in 2002 to 5.15km2 in 2022. Dense wetland vegetation decreased from 286.27km2 in 2002 to 219km2 in 2022 representing a 70 percent change within a twenty years’ period. Settlement increased from nearly 52.82km2 in 2002 to over 138km2 in 2022. Waterbody decreased from 5.56km2 in 2002 to 4.2km2 in 2022 representing a 1.37percent change within the period of twenty years. The combined effects of population growth and activities linked to oil thefts and artisanal refining of hydrocarbon in Ahoada-East have tremendous impacts on agriculture, food security, biodiversity conservation, deforestation and forest degradation, among other environmental consequences. We therefore call on all stakeholders including community leaders, youth, government at all levels, oil companies, and non-governmental organizations to actively get involved in providing sustainable livelihoods for the local populace, and sensitization on the protection of forest and forest resources.