This study examines the causes and effects of conflict in Kogi state, north central zone and its implication on the citizen- state relations and national security in Nigeria. The relationship between citizens and the state constitutes a fundamental dimension of national security because the legitimacy, effectiveness, and responsiveness of state institutions influence citizen’s willingness to cooperate with government and security structures. Grounded in Thomas Hobbes (1651), Locke (1689), and Rousseau (1762) protracted social contract theory, this paper adopts a descriptive survey research design supported by qualitative evidence from relevant secondary literature. The study examined how socioeconomic deprivation, perceived government failure, insecurity, institutional weaknesses, and declining public trust shape citizenstate relations and security outcomes. Findings indicate that citizen–state conflict is multidimensional and is intensified by perceived governance failures, inadequate security infrastructure, poor communication, limited institutional accountability, socioeconomic deprivation, and declining confidence in security institutions. The findings further show that community participation, traditional institutions, neighbourhood watch groups, local intelligence, and collaborative security mechanisms can complement formal security institutions by enhancing early warning, information sharing, community surveillance, and institutional responsiveness. However, political interference, inadequate resources, weak interagency coordination, poor regulation of informal security actors, and distrust constrain their effectiveness. The study concludes that persistent insecurity can reinforce a cycle in which declining public trust reduces citizen cooperation, weakens intelligence gathering, and increases reliance on coercive security responses. It recommends strengthening accountable and participatory governance, improving institutional responsiveness, promoting community engagement, enhancing coordination among security actors, and developing regulated community–state security partnerships to support sustainable national security in North-Central Nigeria.